Birds of Celebes: Psittacidae. 
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above with a red patch thereon. P. verticalis Sharpe (Ibis 1894, 248, pi. VI), 
discovered by Everett in the Sooloo Islands, and P. montanus Grant (Ibis 
1895, 466), discovered recently by Whitehead in the inonntains of Luzon, are 
allies of P. flavicans. We take P. platurus for a highly-differentiated form of 
P. hiconensis of Luzon, and P. flavicans as an offshoot of the other Philippine 
form represented by P. discurus. The young birds are all green, the adult P. 
luconensis is also all green, and it is therefore, we believe, of a more ancestral 
character than the adult male P. platurus. 
The young of this species resemble the young of flavicans in coloration, 
but they may he readily distinguished by certain differences between the two 
forms pointed out by Sclater (el), Briiggemann (5) and W. Blasius (12): 
Prioniturus platurus Prioniturus flavicans 
Under tail -coverts: Elongated; in adult as long as the rectricos, Oomparatively short, 
in young a little shorter. 
Cere round nostrils: Naked Feathered. 
Under hill: . . . With a strong indentation on either side The cutting edge much 
near the end, the cutting edge at the end more even, 
projecting upwards. 
Colour of hill: . . Horn-greyish hlue Horn- white. (Platen). 
Prof. W. Blasius adds that P. platurus has a shorter but stouter upper bill, 
as well as its being of a different colour, but this statement we are unahle to 
confirm from the specimens in the Dresden Museum, in which the upper man- 
dible varies much in size. P. platurus is altogether rather the smaller bird. 
The Backet-tail-feathers of Prioniturus, Merops, etc. present facts of interest 
to students of evolution, and they will he found discussed in our Introduction. 
(See figures thereof ])lates V, VI and VIII.) 
According to Meyer P. platurus is solely an inhabitant of the low-lands 
and P. flavicans of the mountains of Celebes; but this view must he modified 
since Dr. Platen obtained both species in Burukan at over 3000' (Coll. Nehrk.) 
and the Drs. Sarasin both at 'I’omohon, P. platurus in April, P. flavicans at the 
end of May. 'They may, however, shift their ranges at different seasons. 
“Ihe bird flies much during the night, and can often be heard crying on 
the mng over one’s head. It feeds in the night on the fruits of gardens and 
fields, and is fond of Indian corn, rice, and fruits like ‘lansa’ [Lansium domesticum 
Jack.), ‘pakawa’(?), etc. During the daytime it is seldom to be met with in the 
plantations, but is to be seen flying very high and crying loud, seldom alone. 
It makes its nest in hollow trees. On trees it does not moAm much, but sits 
quietly. If one is shot down from a group the others do not stir, hut lie, 
concealed by their green plumage, beUveen the leaves, just as I have noticed 
in the case of other Parrots. The natives of the Minahassa assert that, if the 
‘kulli-kulli’ is taken by surprise in the rice-fields, it becomes confused, or terrified, 
falls doAvn, and then can easily be caught” (Meyer 7, and in Gould’s Bds. of 
Meyer & Wiglesworth, Birds of Celebes (Oet. IStfi, 1897). 
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