18G8.] DR. J. MURIE ON GEOPSITTACUS OCCIDENTALIS. 159 



were carefully watched by our Superintendent, Mr. A. D. Bartlett. 

 He arrived at the same conclusion as Dr. Mueller, namely, that it 

 is chiefly a nocturnal bird. As the results of Mr. Bartlett's obser- 

 vations have already been stated* I need only add two facts men- 

 tioned by him : — one, that it showed a preference for green food ; 

 the other, that its voice was a double note, harsh and loud. 



My own observations, although limited, would incline me to 

 agree with the above-mentioned gentleman. While I saw the bird 

 during the day it remained motionless on its tuft of grass, and only 

 became lively towards sundown. In daylight the eye had a sin- 

 gular expression, reminding one of the appearances characteristic 

 of the Owls, Lemuroids, and such like night-feeding animals. The 

 eye, however, did not look excessively large in proportion to the 

 head. 



Toward the end of January, the weather having become change- 

 able, the bird took what appeared to its keeper a fit of sneezing, 

 and died within a day after. 



Examination of the viscera showed that death had been caused 

 by an acute pneumonic attack. This had affected both lungs. The 

 other internal organs were much congested with blood, and their 

 texture softened. This softening may have been due to a fatty de- 

 generation of the tissues. 



The body was so fat and oily that it was only with difficulty 

 that Mr. Bartlett took off the skin in safety. Of the allied form of 

 Ground- Parrakeet, Pezoporus formosus, Mr. Gould saj^s that "its 

 flesh is excellent, being delicate in flavour, and equalling, if not sur- 

 passing, that of the Quail and Snipe"t. Although I myself did not 

 taste the flesh of the present nocturnal species, I have no doubt, from 

 the delicacy of its appearance, that it would form quite as good 

 food as its congener. 



Upon carefully comparing our bird with Mr. Gould's type speci- 

 men (an indifferent skin) and his description, I could find no points, 

 either in the marking or colouring, worthy of special notice. The 

 sex of his specimen not being known, it becomes the more important 

 to mention that the Society's bird was a male, and doubtless adult. 



The typical skin has lately been presented to the British Museum 

 by Mr. Gould ; and our mounted bird has now been added to the same 

 collection. 



I regret that the amount of fat and the greasy nature of the skin 

 quite stood in the way of examination respecting the pterylosis of 

 ■ this interesting Psittacine form. 



The subjoined are the only notes I was enabled to make. The 

 greatest stretch of the wings, i. e. from tip to tip, is 18 inches. 

 The shape of each wing itself is also peculiar, and not unlike that 

 of the night-flying birds. From base to apex it presents a regular 

 elongated cone, the tips of the feathers being subequal. 



The primaries are ten in number, the second of which is probably 

 the longest. There are nine or ten secondary feathers. 



* By Mr. Sclat«r, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 891. 

 t Handbook, already cited, toI. ii. p. 87. 



