144 
Birds of Celebes: Psittacidae. 
Dr. Meyers possession at Manado, fed on rice and bananas, and was generally 
unintellig'ent, idle, quiet, or grumbling (d 7). In ISTorth Celebes the species is 
very common, and Dr. Hickson speaks of their resorting to the lower branches 
of the trees towards sunset, and keeping up a constant chattering noise until 
past midnight. Does it feed in the night like Prioniturus platurus"! In South 
Celebes (Tjamba) it appears to be much rarer, as Dr. Platen’s graphic description 
shows. M^hen one is on the watch in the woods of South Celebes, or passing 
through them as noiselessly as possible, Muller’s Parrot, anxiously avoiding open 
places and keeping by preference in the darkness of the wood, may often be 
seen, usually alone, more rarely in twos or threes, as it flies past with its heavy 
flight and disappears apparently without leaving a trace in the crown of a thick- 
leaved tree. On remaining quiet and keeping the spot in sight, it is noticed, 
often not until after a lapse of half an hour or more, that the birds, which 
during this time have been sitting perfectly motionless and gazing at us, at last 
become lively and go about their daily duties, without however letting a sound 
be heard. In freedom they make the same quiet and serious impression as in 
captivity, never excite the attention of the hunter, but on the other hand contrive 
through motionless behaviour to be so deceptive that the eye passes them over 
without notice, even when such a bird is sitting openly on a bough. A single 
time my Malay hunter informed me as something remarkable, that he had seen 
a flight of six examples of this Parrot. As to its breeding, I could unfortunately 
learn nothing, for the nesting places are all to be found amongst inaccessible 
steep cliffs, and besides the natives show no interest whatever in capturing and 
rearing such birds” (h2). 
f 46. ? TANYGNATHUS LUCONENSIS (L.). 
Blue-headed Green Parrot. 
a. Psittacus lucionensis Linn., S. K 1766, I, 146 (ex Brisson). 
h. Eclectus luconensis (1) Pinsch, Papag. 1868, H, 362. 
c. Tanygnatlms luzonensis (1) Brliggem., Abh. Yer. Bremen, 1876, V, 38; (2) Koch, Verz. 
Yogelb. aus Cel. u. Sanglnr, Pebr. 1876, (3) Salvad., Ann. Mus. Civ. G-en. 1876, 
IX, 53. 
Tanygnatlms luconensis (1) Sclat., P. Z. S. 1871, 479; (2) Meyer, Isis 1884, 6; (3) Salvad., 
Cat. B. XX, 1891, 424. 
c?.. Tanygnathus lucionensis W. Bias., Ornis 1888, lY, 559. 
For synonymy and references see Salvador! 3. 
Adult male. Parrot-green, yellower below and on hind neck, mantle and upper tail-coverts; 
crown and occiput light cerulean-blue; feathers of the lower back tipped with 
paler (turquoise-) blue; wing-coverts blue, broadly bordered with dark golden 
ochraceous, the greater series green, with terminal part blue and light green and 
yellow-brown margins, the primary coverts without these margins, the least series 
(bend of wing) black, tipped with blue and golden ochraceous; wings below shining 
dusky; tail below yellow shaded with olive (Bataan, Luzon — Xr. 3993). Wing 190; 
tail 124; tarsus 19; cuhnen from cere 31 mm. 
