476 Mr. Swainson on Nczo Australasian Birds. 



2. Middle of the body with a 2. Not alluded to. 



purple spot. 



3. Tail feathers rounded at their 3. All the tail feathers some- 



extremities, what pointed at the end. — 



Lath. 



4. Ends of the tail feathers 4. L'extremite de toutes les 



banded with buff-coloured penues est d'un blanc nu- 



yellow. ance de vert. 



5. Chin, and part of the throat, 5. Not alluded to. 



straw colour. 



The only material difference between these two birds consists 

 in the tarsi of one being entirely covered with feathers, and those 

 of the other but partially ; there seems also a slight variation in 

 the form of the tail feathers. I do not lay much stress upon the 

 dissimilarity of their colours, because it appears that the Col.pur- 

 purata of authors is subject to much variation of plumage. Future 

 observations will shew whether there may not be one or two 

 distinct species confounded under this name. All those birds 

 which I have mentioned as likely to come into the group of 

 Ptilinopus, have their general plumage green, variegated by the 

 most beautiful colours ; they are the inhabitants of India, and the 

 Islands of the Pacific Ocean. Their tails are either even or 

 rounded, while the variation in the form of their quill feathers has 

 been already noticed. 



Genus. Sericulus. Mihi. 



Rostrum Orioli rostro simile. Bill of Oriolus. 



Tarsi elongati, validi. Tarsi lengthened, strong. 



Cauda subfurcuta. Tail slightly forked. 



Two specimens of this rare and superb bird are among those in 

 Mr. Brogden's collection. As a species, it has long been known 

 by the excellent figure of Lewin ; yet as its situation in Nature 

 calls for much enquiry, I avail myself of this opportunity to offer 

 a few remarks upon the subject. 



That Sericulus presents a type of form, totally distinct from 



