SMUTTY PARROT. 
to ornithologists as the Platycercus browni, a specific appellation applied to it 
in honour of the celebrated botanist ; but which, I regret to say, must give 
place to the prior one of venustus .” 
In May, 1909, Mr. J. P. Rogers made a trip to Wild Dog Creek, 170 miles 
south of Wyndham, and reported that he first met with this species exactly 
half way and that though several birds were seen they were rare. 
From Melville Island the same worker wrote : “ Nov. 5, 1911. Cooper’s 
Camp. These parrots are very numerous here : usually seen in small flocks 
or in pairs and are scattered through the forest country : they are very tame. 
Dec. 5, 1911. Are still very common. Jan. 13, 1912. 10 miles S.E. of Snake 
Bay. These birds are very rare here : by appearances the locality was not 
suitable for them. Feb. 5, 1912. Cooper’s Camp. Are still numerous here 
and are now often seen feeding in the mangroves.” 
Hall in the Emu, Vol. VII., 1907, p. 25, recorded the species from the 
Robinson River, N.W. Australia, collected by J. P. Rogers, and observed : 
“ A well-defined red mark across forehead ; cheeks bluish white. Apparently 
this is a case of dichromatism.” 
Hill noted {Emu, Vol. X., p. 270, 1911) that at Kimberley, N.W. Australia, 
it was : “ An uncommon species, generally seen in companies of three, on 
the eastern side of Napier Broome Bay. Unripe acacia seeds, and the fruit 
of another tree appear to be the chief articles of diet.” 
Macgillivray wrote in the Emu, Vol. XIII., p. 157, 1914, that “ When at 
Burketown, on the Gulf of Carpentaria, Mr. McLennan examined a pair of 
caged Parrakeets which answered in general to this species, but differed in 
having a broad red band across the chest. They were young birds, and the 
owner affirmed that in the adult birds the band was much brighter. They 
came from the Northern Territory, Queensland border.” 
In the next volume, p. 46, Barnard recorded the species from t^e 
M‘ Arthur River, Northern Territory : “ Though rather scarce, birds were 
generally to be found along the river, feeding on the seeds of the melaleuca 
trees. They were always seen in pairs.” He does not mention any red chest- 
band, so apparently there was none and the birds were normal. 
Practically nothing is therefore on record concerning the life history of 
this species. 
Its scientific history is almost as brief as though Gould noted that there 
were differences between the North-west and Northern Territory specimens, 
he did not distinguish them by name. Since Gould’s date few specimens 
were available, save from Port Essington and Port Darwin, until recent years. 
It might be noted that though Gould, in accordance with the law of priority 
which he rigorously observed, used in 1865 the correct name venustus, recently 
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