61 



NECROPSITTACUS milne-edw. 



Necropsittacus Milne-Edwards, Ann. Sc. Nat. (5) XIX, Art. 3, p. 18 (1874). 



MILNE-EDWARDS considered Necropsittacus closely allied to the 

 genus Palaeornis, and at the same time to show affinities with the 

 Loriidae. At the same time the two mandibles were sufficient, in 

 his opinion, to show that this bird belonged to a little generic group standing 

 near Palaeornis. 



NECROPSITTACUS RODRICANUS 



(MILNE-EDW.) 



Psittacus Rodricanus A. Milne-Edw., Ann. Sc. Nat. (5) VIII, pp. 151-155' P 1 - 7. ff - h 2 ( l86 7)- 

 Necropsittacus rodericanus A. Newt., P.Z.S. p. 41 (1875). 



THIS parrot was described from a portion of the upper mandible by 

 Professor Milne- Edwards, and then was more fully described by 

 Dr. Giinther and Sir Edward Newton, who examined a nearly 

 complete skull and other bones. 



A manuscript discovered in the Archives of the Ministry of Marine 

 in Paris proves that this bird only became extinct at a not very 

 distant date, it having been seen alive by the writer of the manuscript 

 about the year 1731. In this manuscript the bird was said to have a 

 body considerably larger than a pigeon, with a very long tail and a very large 

 head and bill. Unfortunately the writer does not mention the colour, but adds 

 that the smaller green and blue parrot (Palaeornis exsul) was much 

 handsomer ; so we can safely assume that our bird was of sombre colouration. 

 It was undoubtedly closely allied to the genus Palaeornis. The two following, 

 though much brighter coloured and but scantily described, apparently belong 

 to the same genus. 



Habitat : Rodriguez. 



