PLATYCERCUS scapularis. 
Tabuan, or King Parrakeet. 
Family Psittacide. 
GENERIC CHARACTER.—Lesson. Man. 2, 146. 
SpEcIFIC CHARACTER. 
Green; head, neck, and body beneath scarlet; lower part of the 
back blue; scapular covers with a pea green stripe ; tail black. 
Tabuan Parrot. White's Voyage, pl. in p. 168 (male). 
Grande Perruche a collier et croupion bleus. Le Vail. Par. pl. 55. 
Platycercus scapularis. Vig. and Hors. Linn. Trans. 15, 1, 284. 
om 
Great ty allied to the Ground Parrakeets of Australia, but 
differing from them in many particulars, are the Broad- 
tailed Parrakeets of the same region, forming the modern 
group Platycercus. The former appear to represent the 
Maccaws ; while the latter exhibit many strong points of 
analogy to the Lories ; but we question if their resemblance 
extends further. 
We have had one of these beautiful Parrakeets in our 
possession, alive, for many years. Its manners are gentle 
and timid. Like many of its congeners, it delights to wash 
itself in a basin of water. In the day, and during winter, 
it is generally silent; but on a mild evening it will go on, for 
two or three hours, with a somewhat whistling note ; some- 
times shrill, but generally soft and pleasing. Its ordinary 
diet is moistened bread, with a little hemp and canary seed ; 
but during summer and autumn the small garden fruits ap- 
pear to be highly welcome to our elegant little favourite. 
Our figure represents a variety of the male bird, wherein 
the light green on the scapular feathers is wanting. The 
total length is about sixteen inches. 
We consider the primary divisions of the Psittacidz, 
are those which have long been recognized under the 
familiar names of Maccaws, Cockatoos, Parrots, Lories, 
and Parrakeets. Such a series is the result of a synthetical 
investigation we have given to the subject; but this mode 
of inquiry is so deceptive, and has led to so many erroneous 
conclusions, that until each of these groups are submitted 
to a patient analysis, which has never yet been done, no 
eorrect opinion on the subject can be formed. The name 
on the Plate (engraved five years ago) is a mistake. The 
first description and figure of this bird is in ‘ White’s 
Voyage to New South Wales,” where it is described as 
not uncommon. 
