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CHARMOSYNA. 



LONG-TAILED LOEIES. 



Charmosyna, Wagler, Mori. Fsitt. p. 493 (1832). 



Type of the genus : C. papuensis. 



Generic characters. — Tail-feathers twelve ; point of maxilla long but not thin ; tail-feathers gradually 

 tapering to a point, more or less acute ; predominant colour on the head, neck, and lower parts red ; 

 the two middle tail-feathers generally much longer than the lateral ones, and very narrow towards 

 the tip ; the primaries, especially the first four or five, abruptly attenuated towards the tips in 

 adult birds. (Cf. Salvadori, Cat. of Birds in Brit. Mus. I. c.) 



Range. New Guinea, from the north-west to the south-east. 



In shape these birds seem, to us more elegant than any other of the Lories, while in 

 brilliance and variety of coloration they are inferior to very few. They all have the wings 

 above and interscapular region dark green, a great part of the body crimson, and the 

 abdomen and thighs purplish black. The head is always red in front, succeeded by a patch 

 more or less blue, with a transverse black band behind it. It is a singular fact, ascertained 

 by Count Salvadori *, that in young birds of this genus the quills are not attenuated towards 

 their tips, while in the adults of both sexes the first five quills are very remarkably and 

 suddenly so attenuated. 



The genus is remarkable for being entirely confined to New Guinea, where individuals 

 may be met with at great altitudes. 



* See Salvadori's Orn. Pap. e Mol. i. pp. 320-326. 



