THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
“ Irides silvery cream, inner circle greenish, skin round eyes pale olive, eyelids 
darker ; bill olive brown, nostrils olive green ; legs and feet olive green ” 
(McLennan). Wing 154 mm. Other measurements about the same as in the 
male. Figured. Collected at the same place as the male on the 20th of July. 1913. 
Neat, Eggs and Breeding season. No Australian eggs taken. 
An ornithological sensation was produced, as far as Australia is concerned, 
when in the Emu for October, 1913, on p. 105, Dr. Macgillivray contributed 
the note entitled “ Description of New Parrot.” I here transcribe his 
account: “The discovery of a new and distinct addition to our Parrakeets 
is due to the enthusiasm and energy of another member of our Union, Mr. 
M‘Lennan. When collecting at Cape York, 1910-1912, he heard several 
times of a Parrot inhabiting the country in the vicinity of the Pascoe River, 
and which, from various descriptions given, he thought to be an Eclectits, or 
some allied form. He prevailed upon me to allow him to proceed to the 
Pascoe River, which enters the sea on the East Coast of Cape York Peninsula, 
about 20 miles, as the Crow flies, to the north of Lloyd’s Bay. When pro- 
ceeding up the river in search of a suitable camping-place, one of the first 
objects which attracted his attention was a strange Parrakeet, which flew 
from the scrub lining the banks of the river. Its call arid flight were unfamiliar 
to him. I have now received from him a male and female of what seems to 
me not only a ne“w species, but a new genus. It may be placed in the family 
Cyclopsittacidce. Although partaking in general of the characters of this 
family, and of the two genera, Neopsittacus and Cyclopsittacus , of which it 
is composed, it differs sufficiently, in my opinion, from both to warrant it 
being placed in a distinct genus, for which I propose the name Pseudopsittacus .” 
Then followed a good and detailed description of the genus and species which 
he called Pseudopsittacus maclennani. 
Dr. Macgillivray was quite correct in considering it a new genus to him, 
as it was quite novel to the Australian fauna, but his location was not quite 
right as the bird belonged to the genus Geoffroyus. He forwarded me the 
types which I compared with the series in the British Museum and found 
they could be subspecifically separated as a form of the species known as 
Geoffroyus personatus Shaw. My List of the Birds of Australia was just 
being published, so I added this information in the “Additions,” p. xxv., where 
I also corrected the species name, as hereafter noted. 
I considered this discovery of great importance from the point of view 
of the zoogeographical student and therefore contributed an account with 
my conclusions to the Ibis for January, 1915. As the present work will 
circulate among non-readers of the Ibis, and from the fact that it attempts to be 
complete as as possible, I will repeat the points put forward in the Ibis essay. 
