PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. 16*3 



crown of the head is hlackish-purple in front, passing 

 into violet-purple on the hinder part. The wings on 

 the upper surface are green, the flexure and margins 

 violet-blue, as are also the under wing-coverts. The 

 feathers of the thighs are azure-coloured exteriorly, 

 their basal parts being greenish. The bill is orange 

 yellow ; the under mandible conic, and narrow to- 

 wards the tip. In this species, the tongue exhibits 

 in an inferior degree the filamentous character so cha- 

 racteristic of the division, and it is probable that, 

 with three or four others, such as Lorius puniceus, 

 gurrulus, &c., it will be found necessary to separate 

 them from such as exhibit the tubular and papillary 

 structure of that member in greater extent and per- ' 

 fection. 



The next form we have to notice is one of great 

 interest, partaking of the essential characters of the 

 Lories, in the form and structure of its bill and 

 tongue, as well as in the prevailing tints of its plum- 

 age. At the same time, it shews a strong analogy 

 to the Ring- Parrakeets, or members of the genus 

 Palceornis, in the peculiar form of its tail, which 

 nearly resembles that of Palaeornis Alexandri. By 

 Wagler it is considered as genetically distinct from 

 the other Lories, as well as from the Trickoglossi, 

 or Lorikeets, and of it he institutes his genus 

 Charmosyna ; but as no other species has yet been 

 discovered, and the prolongation of the two mid- 



