158 DR. J. MURIE ON GEOPSITTACUS OCCIDENTALIS. [Feb. 2/, 



the East-Indian species in the British Museum. No specimen in 

 that collection agrees with them in tint. 



The Black Rat, Mus rattus (var. niger), approaches nearest in 

 form and general appearance. Mus rufescens or indicus (Mus kok, 

 Gray) is considerably darker and rufescent in shade. The Mus dar- 

 winii, Waterh., P. Z. S. 1837, p. 28, besides differing in colour and 

 size, has a much broader, leaf-like ear, although the specimens in 

 question have it nearly as long. 



Whether considered merely as a pale variety of the Black Rat, or 

 as indicating a variation towards separation into a specific type, I 

 may be justified in placing on record a description of the external 

 characters. 



Hair fine. Tail clothed with very short, close-set, white hairs. 

 Ears large and somewhat leaf-like, naked and of a pinkish or flesh- 

 colour. Sides of body of a light-yellowish hue. Forehead and back 

 inclining to a more brownish tinge. Nose and rump of a purplish- 

 grey colour. Under parts of body white. Whiskers long, fine, and 

 black. 



The size, somewhat naked tail, and other characters show it to 

 be a true rat, and not belonging to the group of mice. The admea- 

 surements of one specimen are as follows : — . , 



^ inches. 



Length from snout to tip of tail .... II '3 



of head r6 



of body 4'8 



of tail (partly injured, probably an inch longer) . . 4'9 



Ears in length 1 inch, greatest breadth 0'7 inch. 



Length of sole of foot 1 inch, and including toes 1*3 inch. 



2. On the Nocturnal Grouncl-Parrakeet {Geopsittacus occi- 

 dentalis, Gould). By James Murie, M.D., F.L.S., Pro- 

 sector to the Society. 



Of this singular " Strigops-\oo\m^ " Parrakeet, first made known 

 to ornithologists through Mr. Gould's description (P. Z. S. 1861, 

 p. 100) from a skin sent him from Perth, in Western Australia, 

 nothing further has been learned until lately. 



No living specimen had been seen by naturalists in this country, 

 when Dr. Mueller, of Melbourne, our active and obliging Corre- 

 sponding Member, transmitted to this country a specimen of parrot- 

 like bird, which proved to be the Western or Nocturnal Ground- Par- 

 rakeet of Mr. Gould, Geopsittacus occidentalis*. 



In a letter to Dr. Sclater, it is described by Dr. Mueller as inha- 

 biting the Gawler Ranges in South Australia, and in some respects 

 to be a night-bird, like the Nightjars and Owls. 



During the short period it remained in the Gardens, its habits 



* Gould, ' Handbook to Birds of Australia,' 18055, vol. ii. p. 88 ; and the 

 ' Birds of Australia,' Suppl. part iv. pi. 2, and text, 1867. 



