188 SAPPHIRE- CROWNED PSITTACULE. 
elusive ; for ourselves, we have not had an opportu 
nity of tracing these birds through their different 
stages, but we know, that, in size, and in a great 
measure in colour, they nearly agree, and Mr Swain- 
son himself has noticed in his description the resem 
blance of the vernalis to the galgulus, in the pecu- 
liar colour of the under surface of the wings, with- 
out, however, any remarks or conjecture as to the 
probability of their belonging to the same species, 
under different states of plumage or age. In re- 
taining the generic title of Psittaculus for this and 
some other diminutive forms belonging to the In- 
dian islands and those Of Australia, we do not in- 
clude all the species embraced by Kuhl’s section of 
that name, or even the genus of Wagler, which, 
though more restricted, admits of birds marked by 
strong differential characters, and widely separated, 
so far as regards their geographical distribution. In 
the state we have figured it, the upper parts are 
of a fine lively green, with the exception of the 
rump and upper tail-coverts, which are crimson-red, 
and it shews but a slight indication of the fine blue, 
which marks the crown of the adult. In the ma- 
ture state, also, the throat, instead of being orange- 
coloured, is of a fine red, and a crescent of orange- 
yellow encircles the lower part of the hind neck. 
The bill in the adult is reddish-black ; in the young 
and female it is red. 
