232 " ORNITHOLOGY. 



The descriptions and figures of Ptsittacus oUvaceus, represent a bird 

 of nearly the same size as the present species, but the colors are either 

 not given with sufficient accuracy, or are quite different from those of 

 the bird now before us. BufFon's plate (PI. Enl. 287), represents a 

 bird with olive-green plumage, to which his description accords : " Les 

 grandes pennes sont d'un hrun-olivdtre ; cette couleur est celle de tout 

 le reste du corps, excepte une tache bleuatre derriere la tete." (PI. 

 Enl. VII, p. 122), Le Vaillant's figure is also much too dark, and the 

 green color is of a quite different shade from that of our bird. 



Gmelin compiles his description of both P. marginatus and P. oUva- 

 ceus, from Latham's Synopsis, merely giving binomial names to the 

 "varied-winged Parrot" and the "lace-winged Parrot," of the latter 

 author, who had also compiled his descriptions, the first from Sonne- 

 rat's Voy., and the second from Buffon. It does not appear that either 

 Latham or Gmelin ever saw a specimen of the species they describe. 



Several specimens in the Collection of the Philadelphia Academy 

 have been labelled in Europe " Pdttacus marginatus," but are identical 

 with others labelled " Pdttacus surnairatms," Raffles, and are the latter 

 species. 



We cannot, however, identify any bird in the collections to which 

 we have access as PsiUacus olivaceus, Gmelin, though we deem it very 

 probable that such a species exists, and is at least of the same genus, 

 if not specifically identical with the present bird. 



The name PsiUacus lucionensis, was adopted by LinnfEus from Bris- 

 son, as cited above, and if all the names now given by us are synony- 

 mous, it must be adopted as the true appellation for this species. The 

 description by Linnaeus is compiled from Brisson, and it will be found 

 on comparison of the plates of Brisson and Buffon, that there is suffi- 

 cient similarity to warrant the suspicion that the latter copied from 

 the former, and possibly gave the colors from Brisson's description. 



Brisson describes from a specimen in the cabinet of " M. I'Abbe 

 Aubry." It is quite probable that his description served for the basis 

 of those of Linngeus, Buffon, Gmelin, and Latham, neither of which, 

 it is also probable, ever saw the species. 



Though we are under the necessity of leaving this subject at pre- 

 sent in some complexity, we have a degree of gratification at least in 

 having it in our power to point out the true species of 'Scopoli, and 

 have an opportunity further of affording incidentally to the student, 



