Genus. — B ARNARDIUS. 
Barnardius Bonaparte, Rev. Mag. de Zool., Vol. 
VI., p. 153, 1854 Type B. barnardi. 
Larger Platycercine birds with short bill, long wings, long wedge-shaped tails 
and small feet. 
The distinctive features of this generic group are its coloration, larger 
size, and the distinct notching in the cutting edges of the upper mandible, 
not so pronounced. 
In all other particulars they agree with typical Platycercus, the tail 
perhaps comparatively a little longer, the bill stouter. While this genus has 
apparently evolved from an ancestor of Platycercus the very different coloration 
shows the divergence to have taken place at an early stage in the evolution of 
the Platycercine group. The immature still show a green plumage, but it is 
a different green in the majority of forms. The erythristic element, so strongly 
marked in the Platycercus series, is missing, but a slight tendency is seen in 
some forms, the forehead taking on that colour, and a reddish tinge sometimes 
occurring on the abdomen. The cyanistic element seems to have mostly 
predominated, but even this has been held in check by the normal green, while 
a melanistic tendency shows as a governing factor under certain conditions. 
The peculiar scalloped effect seen on the back of typical Platycercus has never 
been developed. 
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