THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. 
Ps(ittacus) scapularis Licht., Zool. Mus., Berlin, ed. 2, 1818, p. 26. descr. 
here, but locality not given, although common name is given as 44 Der 
Tabuanische.” In the next catalogue 44 Verzeichniss von ausgestopften 
Saugethieren und Vogeln seiche am 12ten October, 1818, u. folg. Tage im 
zoologischen Museum der Konigl. Univers. zu Berlin . . . .” 1818, p. 5, the 
name Psittacus scapularis appears, based on 44 Tabuan Parot. White. Phil.” 
I at once wrote for further details, which, as usual, Dr. Richmond 
courteously forwarded the following complete account : — 
44 Lichtenstein, in Das zoologische Museum der Univers. zu Berlin, ed. 2 
[preface dated August, 1818], 1818, p. 26, gives the following description under 
Ps(ittacus) scapularis : 44 Der Tabuanische (Ps. scapularis), schliesst wurdig 
die Reihe. Ein Wundervolles Roth ziert ihm Kopf und Korper, wahrend 
Elugel und Schwanz ein schemes Gelbgrun deckt, beim Mannchen durch einem 
lichtgriinen Schulterfleck verschont. In his Verzeichniss von ausgestopften 
Saugethieren und Vogeln; . . . zool. mus. K. Univ. Berlin 1818 (Preface dated 
June), p. 5, he gives simply 44 Psittacus scapularis n. Fern. Tabuan Parot. 
White. Phil. Australien. Vortrefflich) — 4 thl Idem. M(ittelmassig) 
—2 thl.” 
That this Catalogue has priority is evident from the fact that it must 
have been published at the latest in August, 1818, so we must use the specific 
name scapularis. As instancing the ease with which well-known names can 
be abandoned this species is a splendid instance. For fifty years almost 
unanimously scapulatus was used, though it was commonly admitted that 
cyanopygius was equivalent and had priority : then Salvadori rightly used 
cyanopygius and this name was accepted without question, and now we must 
revert to scapularis, which recalls scapulatus. The latter name was accredited 
to Bechstein, but no one has been able to trace it to that writer, and though 
I have made special search through all Bechstein’s works available I have 
been unsuccessful. 
Four paintings of this species in different plumages appear among the 
Watling Drawings and these Latham differentiated from the Tabuan Parrot, 
naming them in the vernacular as Scarlet and Green Parrot, but no Latin 
name was applied, and, in the Gen. Synops. Suppl., II., p. 82, he associated this with 
the Tabuan Parrot var. B, writing : 44 Native name Wellat” which informa- 
tion appears on the Watling paintings. 
Though a number of specimens seem to have been procured at various 
times nothing was published about its habits until Gould’s time. As a matter 
of fact. Vigors & Horsfield published a note as follows : 44 Mr. Caley could not 
inform, us of the native name of this bird. 4 It was seldom,’ he tells us, 4 that 
I noticed a full coloured specimen, viz., red. When the Indian corn is ripe 
