80 



Tlie Rev. S. J. Whitmee, in an account of Samoan birds, makes the following statements 

 witli respect to Vini australis, which he speaks of as Coriphilus fringillaceus. He tells ns 

 that it is " very abundant on all the islands during a part of the year. The natives believe 

 this bird migrates ; but all I have been able to learn on the subject is, that they are 

 seen passing in flocks from the western to the eastern islands. A few may be found all 

 the year round; but during several months of the cooler season the cocoanut-trees swarm 

 with them. They appear to feed chiefly on the nectar of the cocoanut-fiowers ; but when the 

 Erythrina inclica (a tree very common near the coast) flowers, about July and August, they 

 may be seen about it in great numbers. Native boys are very expert at snaring the Sega 

 [native name] on the cocoanut-trees. I have never heard of the bird breeding in Samoa ; and 

 the natives positively affirm that it does not. I have often obtained examples of this 

 Parrakeet in immature plumage ; but they are always nearly full-grown, and as strong on 

 the wing as old birds. The Samoans are very clever at rearing and keeping birds; and they 

 purchase the Fijian Shining Parrakeet (Pyrrhulopsis splendens) at high prices, and keep them 

 many years ; but they never succeed in keeping the Sega alive more than a few weeks." 



Layard, in his paper on " Birds of the Navigator Islands " above referred to, tells us that 

 it is " abundant in the early morning before the sun gets hot, on the flowers of the cocoanut- 

 trees, sipping the sweetened dew caught in the freshly opened spathes. When this is dried 

 up by the heat, they are off to the forest, and feed on some of the many-petaled flowers 

 of the tall trees. During the time that the ' coral trees ' (Erythrince) are in flower, they 

 may be shot in dozens, as these trees form their favourite resort. I have procured 

 specimens of this lovely little Parrakeet from the island of Futuna, and they are very 

 abundant on Vavaw, the most northern of the Friendly Islands." 



The predominant tint of the plumage is green, but the most distinguishing feature is 

 the beautiful bright blue colour and the elongated narrow shape of the feathers which 

 decorate the top of the head; these cover the vertex and occiput. The forehead is green, 

 and the upper parts of the body are all green. The upper part of the back, the shoulders, 

 and the wings are of rather an olive-green tint, but the rest of the upper parts are of a 

 beautiful grass-green, lightest on hind neck and upper tail-coverts. The under tail-coverts 

 are of rather a yellowish green. The lores, cheeks, and throat are red, as is also a patch at 

 the hindmost part of the breast ; this patch is separated from the red throat by the colour 

 of the breast, w T hich is green with a bluish shade. The abdomen is purple-blue, as are 

 also the thighs, save that there is some green on their hinder surface. The flanks are bright 

 green. The primaries are dusky at their apices and on the inner web ; the first primary is 

 entirely dark-coloured. The quills are dusky beneath. The under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 arc bright green. The tail is green above, save that the tips and the inner web of the tail- 

 feathers are yellow ; it is greenish yellow beneath. The bill is orange-red ; the feet appear 

 reddish, but are said to be flesh-coloured in life ; the iris is reddish or brownish yellow. 



Total length 7 inches, wing 17, tail 2-7, bill 0'5, tarsus 0"49. 



Salvadori says that in the young the blue feathers of the head are shorter, the red on 

 the throat less extended, and that of the lower breast only incipient, while there is no purple 

 patch on the middle of the abdomen. 



