ON THE PARKOTS OF THE GENUS ECLECTUS. 25 



Eclectus in anatomical structure. Eclectus, however, differs from all 

 known Parrots in having the female more gaudily coloured than the male. 

 Can it be possible that, as in the few other analogous instances where 

 the female is the more brightly coloured (e. g. Turnix, Rhynchcea, &c.*), 

 the duties of incubation devolve on the male ? If such be the case, we 

 can easily understand the use of the green coloration being retained by the 

 male. Unfortunately we are still totally ignorant of the habits, nidifica- 

 tion, and immature plumage of these Parrots. Let us hope that Signer 

 D'Albertis or Mr. Brown will soon throw some light on this, as well as 

 on the other interesting points noted above, which still require further 

 examination. 



In conclusion, supposing that we assume the new views as to the 

 sexual differences of the Eclecti to be correct, the following list of the 

 species will show concisely their sexual differences and geographical 

 distribution. 



1. ECLECTUS POLYCHLOKTJS (Scop.). 



Maximus : mas viridis colore obscuriore, lateribus rubro-puniceis, caudd 

 minus cceruled : femina rubra, fascia inter scapulari, abdomine et annulo 

 perioplitlialmico cyaneis. 



Hab. in insulis Papuanis et Moluccanis Ternate, Gilolo, Batchian, 

 Morotai, Guebe, Waigiou, Mysol, Gage, Ke, Aru, Papua, Nova Hibernia, 

 et Nova Britannia. 



2. ECLECTUS GRAKDIS (Gin.). 



Major : mas viridis, lateribus rubro-puniceis, caudd vix cceruled : femina 

 rubra, fascia interscap. et abdomine cyaneis, subcaudalibus purbflavis. 

 Hab. in insulis Ternate, Gilolo, Batchian, Morotai, et Gage. 



3. ECLECTUS CARDINAUS (Bodd.). Ibis, 1877, 

 Minor : mas viridis, E. polychloro similis, at colore Icetiore cauddque P* 



magis cceruled distinguendus : femina rubra, fascia interscapulari et 

 abdomine cyaneis ; subcaudalibus auroreis vel rubro-Jlavis. 

 Hab. in insulis Moluccanis Ceram, Bouru, et Amboyna. 



4. ECLECTUS WESTERMANNI, Bp. 



Minor : mas viridis, lateribus concoloribus. Femina adhuc ignota. 

 Hab. ? (Viv. Nat. Art. Mag. et Zool. Soc. Lond.) 



5. ECLECTUS CORISTELI^B, Bp. 



Mas ignotus : femina punicea, colore cyaneo neque dorsi neque lateris 



inferioris ullo. 

 Hab. ? (Viv. Nat. Art. Mag. et Zool. Soc. Lond.) 



* Vide Darwin's ' Descent of Man/ vol. ii. p. 200 et seq. (1871). 



