162 NASITERNIN^. 



Micropsitta pygmasa, Less. Tr. d'Orn. (1831), p. 646. 

 Micropsites pygmcms, Bourj. Pcrr. t. 100. 

 Psittacula pygmoea, Sclilcg. Mus. P.-B. Psitt. (1864), p. 74. 



Nasiterna pi/gmaa, Finsch, Papag. i. (1867) p. 325; Schleg. Mus. P.-B. ll'li\Taison (1874), 

 p. 71. 



iV/a/e.— Grass-green, underparts lighter; under tail-coverts bright 

 yellow ; along the middle of the breast a longitudinal stripe of light 

 red ; loral and eye-region ochreous brownish ; forehead and crown oil- 

 yellow ; quills black, primaries narrowly, secondaries more broadly margined 

 externally with green ; tectrices black, margined with green ; tail-feathers 

 black, the inner web tipped with yellow, the two middle ones marine blue, 

 with black shafts, the next pair to the middle ones at the base of outer web, 

 the outermost at the apex of outer web, margined broadly with green ; bill 

 dark, blackish ; feet horny brown. 



Female corresponds with the male in every respect ; but the bill is light 

 hornish yellow. 



ig. tot. 



al. 



caud. 



culm. 



alt. rostr. 



tars. 



dig. ext, 



in. 



in. lin. 



in. lin. 



lin. 



lin. 



lin. 



lin. 



3i 



2 5 



1 oi 



3 



5 



2i 



H 



Circa 



The manner in which this species was discovered is very singular. 

 During the stay of the French frigate ' L'Astrolabe * at Havre Doreh, one of 

 Quoy's hunters fired at a bird in a tree, and, instead of the one aimed at, the 

 shot brought down a male and female of this novelty. 



This species has a wide range : — New Guinea, Doreh on the north-east 

 coast (^Quoy ^ Gaimard, Wallace) ; Sorong, opposite to the island of Salawatti 

 (Von Rosenlerg) ; Utanate river on the west coast (Salomon M'dller) ; islands 

 of Mysol (Wallace, Von Rosenlerg, Hoedi) and Salawatti (Hoedt) ; Aru islands 

 (Von Rosenlerg), Waigeu and Guebe (Bernstein). 



In regard to the habits, all observers agree that N. pygmcea is very shy, 

 and extremely difficult to observe among the foliage of tropical trees. 

 Mr. Wallace notices that Nasiterna breeds in holes of trees. 



