92 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



always be distinguished from the male by being much smaller 

 in size and less brilliant in all her markings. The young at 

 an early age assume the plumage of the adult, after which 

 they undergo no change. 



Face scarlet, with a spot of yellow at the gape ; crown of 

 the head deep blue ; all the upper and under surface green, 

 the latter being somewhat the lightest; shoulders, under 

 wing- and under tail-coverts scarlet ; secondaries and wing- 

 coverts bluish green ; primaries deep blackish blue, finely 

 margined with yellow ; tail deep blue, tinged with red, passing 

 into black at the extremity ; irides rich hazel-yellow ; feet 

 flesh-brown ; bill horn-colour. 



Genus TRICHOGLOSSUS, Vigors and Horsfield. 



This arboreal group of Honey-eating Lorikeets, if not so 

 numerous in species as the seed-feeding Parrakeets, is indi- 

 vidually as abundant, and more universally dispersed, being 

 found in every part of the country yet visited. Other members 

 of the genus are found also in New Guinea and the Moluccas. 



In their structure, habits, food, and mode of nidification, 

 no two groups of the same family can be more widely diff'erent 

 than these forms ; the pencilled tongue, diminutive stomach, 

 thick skin, tough flesh, and foetid odour of the Trichoglossi 

 presenting a decided contrast to the simple tongue, capacious 

 crop and stomach, thin skin, delicate flesh, and freedom from 

 odour of the Platycerci : besides which, the Trichocjlossi 

 possess a strong os furcatorium, which bone is wanting in the 

 Platycerci ; hence, while the Trichoglossi are powerful, swift, 

 and arrow-like in their flight, the Platycerci are feeble, pass 

 through the air in a succession of undulations near the 

 ground, and never fly to any great distance. The mode in 

 which the two groups approach, alight upon, and quit the 

 trees is also remarkably diflercnt; the Trichoylossi dashing 



