^76 Letters, Extracts^ and Notes. [Ibis, 



but may be iii some subspecies. Thus the eyes are recorded 

 the same colour in the sexes by my experieuced collectors, 

 sometimes oue colour, sometimes the otlier. Consequently 

 I could not lay any stress upon a non-existent feature an 

 regards the species. I am emphasising this remark as it is 

 very possible that the eye-coloration may be constantly 

 diflferent in a restricted area and diagnostic as a subspecific 

 feature. 



" No mention is made of the ^ spatules ' of the primaries 

 in the male Queen Alexandra's Parrakeet.'' This is a 

 generic character of the genus Northipsitta, and is fully 

 discussed in the generic diagnosis. 



" The females of all Platycercus and Barnardius Parra- 

 keets are inferior to adult males of the same race in the size 

 of the head and beak, and some are duller in colour and 

 slightly different in markings." Tbe difference in the size 

 of the head cannot be seen in bird-skins, and the difference 

 in the size of the beak is so small that it is not shown 

 by measurements and moreover is not a constant feature, 

 the size of the bill varying with age. The difference in 

 coloration cannot be utilised as a striking feature as the 

 female develops the perfect male plumage with age, so that 

 the most highly-coloured female is scarcely any duller than 

 the most brightly-coloured male, while it is, of course, 

 brighter than the majority of fully-plumaged males. There 

 can scarcely be any doubt that in nature the coloration does 

 develop with age. 



"The statement that the adult female Stanley (yellow- 

 cheeked) Parrakeet resembles the male is quite incorrect. 

 The fen)ale differs from all other Platycerci in retaining 

 all her life a plumage very similar to that of the young." 

 Notwithstanding the remarks above given based on a sight 

 of nearly four dozen Stanley's, the adult female in nature is 

 quite like the adult male. I have examined many more 

 than " four dozen " skins, and my facts are right as regards 

 nature and are confirmed by such skilled bird-observers as 

 Mr. F. L. Whitlock and Mr. Tom Carter. If in captivity 

 the female retains the immature plumage while the male 



