Correspondence



159



Gould originally called it, namely Polytelis. If the Rock Pebbler and

the Barraband are Polytelis, then, undoubtedly, the Queen Alexandra

Parrakeet is also.


Just because the latter species sports in the male one spatulated

feather in the primaries, it was afterwards placed by itself under the

title of Spathopterus. Now it has been found that that name is pre¬

occupied, and Mr. Matthews has coined a new one, and to my mind an

entirely unwarrantable one, namely Northipsitta alexandrce. All this

trampling upon original names and separation of species because of

one feather is ridiculous, and more, it is presumptuous.


I will not dwell upon the trinomal nomenclature, because in

aviculture I have something better to do than to talk of my Bullfinch

as Pyrrhula pyrrhula pileata ! But I can only say that when my living

Queen Alexandra Parrakeets die I shall refuse to present their skins

to any museum or individual (and they are extremely rare, even as such)

unless the bird is labelled what Gould named it, namely Polytelis

alexandrce, and that only.


No doubt one gains some kudos when coming generations see one’s

name as the giver of titles along with Linnaeus, etc., but if we once let

in the thin end of the wedge and ignore ornithologists, such as Gould,

I see no reason why we should not all of us invent and coin a different

name for the same bird, according to our fancies, just as war-profiteers

and neuveaux riches put together some ridiculous coat of arms, or calmly

annex the crest of another family, as well as the name !


Hubert D. Astley.



YOUNG ALEXANDRA PARRAKEETS

Sirs,- —I have bred three fine young Queen Alexandra Parrakeets

this year. A male Barraband ( Polytelis barrabandi) mated with a

female Polytelis alexandrce, but unfortunately the latter died when there

were two beautiful young birds in a nesting-box, and they also

succumbed. They favoured the male in colouring, and, of course,

had the rose colour on the underpart of the tail-feathers, which is

common to both species.



Hubert D. Astley.



