THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
portion, and pale iridescent blue on the outer feathers — the longer ones white at 
the tips. Bill bluish- white ; eyes and feet black ; wing 154. Figured. Collected 
at Skull Creek, Cape York, North Queensland, on the 24th of December, 1912. 
Adult female. Similar to the adult male. 
Nest. In a hole in a tree. 
Eggs. Clutch, three to five. White. 25-27 mm. by 21. 
Breeding-season. At any time of the year after rain. 
In the Suppl. Gen. Synops Birds, 1787, Latham, p. 64, described “ Blue- 
cheeked Parrot. Length eleven inches and a half. Bill and crown of the 
head straw-colour ; cheeks fine light blue ; upper part of the back black, 
streaked with yellow, the lower pale yellow r ; scapulars black ; wing-coverts 
and quills rich deep blue, tinged w T ith green ; breast and belly green ; vent 
red ; exterior feathers of the tail blue, tinged with, and marked near the shafts 
with rows of small dark spots ; the middle ones of a duller green ; legs dusky. 
Communicated by Mr. Pennant. Native place uncertain.” 
Pennant had a large number of birds brought back by members of the 
Cook party and this would seem to be one of them. In confirmation I note 
in Cook's Journal, p. 294, from “ Cooktown,” “Aug. 1770. The land Fowls 
we met here, which far from being numerous, were Crows, Kites, Hawkes, 
Cockadores of 2 sorts, the one white, and the other brown, very beautiful 
Loryquets of 2 or 3 sorts, Pidgeons, Doves, and a few other sorts of small birds.” 
In the Index Ornith., 1790, Latham gave the Latin name of Psittacns 
adscitus to the Blue-cheeked Parrot, and the species was commonly neglected 
by systematic workers. A bird figured by Lear under the name Platycercus 
palliceps in 1832, was not recognised as similar to the above description, but 
as I will later show it can only be classed as a variant, Gould’s notes in 
connection with the species read : “ This elegant species of Platycercus is a 
native of the eastern portions of Australia, and is tolerably numerous at 
Moreton Bay, where all the specimens I have seen were procured. It is known 
in Sydney by the name of Moreton Bay Rose-bill, an appellation bestowed 
on it from its near alliance to the Platycercus eximius. The specific name of 
palliceps has been applied to this bird from the light colouring of the head, 
which amounts in some specimens to a total absence of colour ; this, however, 
I think may be attributed to the effects of exposure to light, since, in recently 
moulted birds, there is always a delicate tinge of j^ellow pervading the crown ; 
the pale blue of the cheeks also appears to be affected by the same cause, though 
not to so great an extent.” 
The life history of the species seems quite unknown as 1 have few observa- 
tions from any of my correspondents. 
Broadbent {Emu, Vol. X., p. 241, 1910) recorded: “Herbert River, 
340 
