8 DIE PAPAGEIEN. 



" We see therefore that in regard to the coloring" of the hill 

 in Palaomis no distinct rule prevails, which can he equally ap- 

 plied to all species. These manifold differences of color have in 

 the earlier stages of our knowledge of this genus, specially 

 amongst the earlier authors, given hirth to a truly chaotic confu- 

 sion of ideas in regard to species, and have led to the heaping 

 up of synonymes in a veritably appalling manner. 



" In consequence, I can with full conviction assert, that the 

 working out of the genus Palceornis, has been unquestionably 

 the most difficult part of my work/'' 



This latter we may fully accept, for starting with a foregone 

 conclusion opposed to facts, it is not surprising that Dr. Finsch 

 found it difficult to demonstrate, or even to persuade himself 

 that he had demonstrated what he desired to arrive at. 



As regards these general remarks, my foot-notes contain all 

 that it seems particularly necessary to remark, but before taking 

 up details connected with each species, I wish to make a few 

 general observations in regard to his list of admitted species. 



This of course is a different kind of question to that we have 

 been discussing ; as to the distinctions of the sexes, the colours 

 of the bill in the young, having myself shot and sexed hundreds 

 of these birds, having taken the young from the nest at almost 

 all ages and reared them, I contradict Dr. Finsch, and would 

 contradict any one else who had not done the same as I have 

 done, without the smallest hesitation. These are matters of 

 fact, which I have seen not once but fifty times with my own 

 eyes, and of which my museum contains overwhelming proofs, 

 and therefore in regard to these I give in to no one, who does 

 not examine the matter as thoroughly as I have done. But when 

 it comes to what species should and should not be accepted, this 

 is quite a matter of opinion, and I merely state my views for 

 what they are worth, fully admitting that on this point Dr. 

 Finsch is likely to be (though I don't think that he is) as correct, 

 or more so, than myself. 



The species he admits are as follows : 



(1) eupatrius, Lin. (2) torquatus, Bodd. (3) eques, Bodd. (4) 

 cyanocephalus, Lin. (5) Hodgsoni, " mihi/' i. e., schisticeps, Hodgs. 

 (6) CalthropcB, Layard. (7) Luciani, Verr. (8) Alexandri, Lin., 

 (from Java and Borneo.) (9) Lathami, mihi. (10) melanorrhyn- 

 cJms, Wagl. (11) peristerodes, "mihi/ 7 i. e., columboides, Jerd. 

 (12) longicaudatus, Bodd. (13) erylhrogenys, Blyth. (14) caniceps, 

 Blyth. 



Of numbers (3), (7), (8), and (12), I have no personal know- 

 ledge; though judging from the analogy of the species I do know, 



