PAL^ORNIS LUCIANI, J. Verr. 

 Bonaparte's Parrakeet. 



PalcBomis Luciance, J. Verr. Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 2nde ser. torn. ii. 1850, p. 598. pi. 13. 



— erythrogenys, Fras. in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1850, p. 245, Aves, pi. xxvi. 



Fraseri, T. J. Moore in Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. ii. p. 621. 



in 



It not unfrequently happens that living examples of birds are brought to Europe long before we are i 

 possession either of skins or mounted specimens of them, or even of a knowledge of the countries of which 

 they are natives ; as an instance in point, I may mention the well-known Grey Parrot {Psittacus erythacus) 

 of Africa, than which no bird is more common in our menageries, bazaars, &c, while at the same time skins 

 are so seldom brought that they are scarcely ever to be met with. In like manner, a considerable number 

 of examples of the present bird have lived in a state of confinement both in this country and on the 

 continent ; but hitherto no skins have, I believe, reached Europe, and we are unaware of what part of the 

 world it is a native. M. Jules Verreaux, who first characterized the species, took his description from a 

 bird living in Paris. The accompanying drawing was taken from a specimen now in the Gardens of the 

 Zoological Society of London ; and the only Museum specimens at present known are the two which grace 

 the fine Derby Museum at Liverpool, both of which birds died in the late Earl of Derby's aviary at 

 Knowsley. 



That the present species is a native of that part of India known as the Malayan Peninsula, or some one 

 of the Indian Islands, is almost certain ; in the absence, however, of any information on this point, I would 

 beg to call the attention of those who may be favourably situated for acquiring a knowledge of its habitat, 

 manners and economy, to the circumstance that any details respecting them will be regarded with especial 

 interest. 



The slightest examination will convince every ornithologist that there is no other species of Parrot with 

 which this bird could be confounded. Its tail is shorter and more diminutive than that of any of its 

 immediate congeners, and the rich red of the cheeks extends entirely round the neck : in some specimens 

 this red colouring becomes very intense, rendering them exceedingly beautiful ; the pale emerald-green of its 

 back, and the still paler hue of its chest, constitute other features by which it may be distinguished. In 

 disposition it is exceedingly unsocial, and all the specimens I have yet seen in captivity were heavy mopish 

 birds, which latter trait is both striking and curious, as occurring in a member of the Psittacidce. 



Comparatively unknown as this bird is, it has already received several names ; of these the one which 

 has the priority is that assigned to it by M. Jules Verreaux, who has called it Luciani, after that great 

 Prince of ornithologists, Charles Lucien Bonaparte ; it was next named erythrogenys by Mr. Fraser, who 

 described and figured it under this appellation in the "Proceedings of the Zoological Society" for 1850; 

 and, lastly, Mr. Moore having occasion, while assisting Dr. Horsfield in compiling the " Catalogue of the 

 Birds in the Museum of the East India Company," to institute a comparison of it with other nearly allied 

 species, remarked that the term erythrogenys had been given by Lesson and Blyth to two other birds oi 

 the same genus ; he therefore cancelled Mr. Fraser's name, and proposed that of Fraseri instead ; but this 

 term must share the same fate, and give place to that of Luciani, which, as already mentioned, has the 

 priority. 



Crown of the head grass-green ; lores black, which colour is indistinctly carried across the forehead ; 

 cheeks, ear-coverts and sides of the neck vermilion-red, gradually fading or becoming dull rosy-red on the 

 back of the neck ; below the cheeks a broad black moustache ; general plumage light green, washed with 

 silvery-grey on the nape, with yellow on the wings, and with verditer on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; 

 primaries and secondaries black, all but the first primary broadly margined, and the secondaries also tipped 

 with green ; tail grass-green above, with the apical half of the two centre feathers blue, and the under 

 surface of the whole yellow ; under surface light green, becoming light glaucous on the breast ; upper 

 mandible coral-red, under mandible black ; irides pale straw-yellow ; feet mealy-brown. 



The figure is a trifle less than the natural size. The plant is the Garcinia mangostana. 



