PSEPHOTUS. 
This group is a purely Australian evolution, and the members of the 
“ Psephotus ” alliance, if it can be so termed, do not range into Tasmania : 
the “ Neophema ” alliance have two species in Tasmania, so that we may review 
the whole under the generic names given above and see if the distribution will 
help us in the study of the species. Thus Psephotus occurs only from South 
Queensland in the interior, through New South Wales, Victoria, South 
Australia and across Central Australia to West Australia. Two species have 
been admitted, but one has a northern and an eastern, the other a more western 
and southern range, but always confined to the interior districts. The two 
species are very different in coloration and very possibly are not congeneric. 
Northiella has only one species which has almost exactly a range coincident 
with the type of Psephotus, not yet reaching West Australia. 
Psephotellus has a northern range, quite north of the two preceding and two 
species are also recognised, well differentiated by means of colour, though 
occupying separate geographical regions. These species constitute the genus 
Psephotus of Gould and Salvadori, which is obviously polyphyletic as the 
form I have called Northiella is very distinct. The range of Psephotellus to 
the north is remarkable, as is also its coloration, a black cap having been 
developed under the same environmental stresses that have produced a black 
head in Platycercus. 
None of these species range into Tasmania and rarely do any touch the 
coast. 
With Neophema Salvadori classed Euphema bourlcii Gould, but a more 
distinct generic type would be hard to find. This form, for which I proposed 
N eopsephotus, is purely an interior one ranging across the centre of the continent. 
In coloration it is the most pleasing to me of all the parrots, the subdued shades 
making it most attractive. In structure it is quite as peculiar as in coloration. 
The other members of Neophema Salvadori I separated into two genera. 
Neophema typical is a more richly coloured form of which two species \ are 
recognised, both of restricted range and now becoming extinct, if one is not 
already so. The species of Neonanodes are four in number and these are so 
closely allied as to be difficult of separation. They occupy coincident ranges 
and extend into Tasmania and Western Australia. This genus is confined 
to Central and Southern Australia and constitutes a remarkable group, as will 
be shown in a more detailed manner hereafter. 
393 
