PSITTEUTELES SUBPLACENS. 
Green-backed Lorikeet. 
Trichoglossus siibplacens, Sclater, Proc, Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 519. 
The present lovely Lorikeet, lately discovered by Signor D’ Albertis on tlie south coast of New Guinea, may 
dispute the palm of beauty with the well-known Psitteuteles placetis, so generally considered one of the 
finest of the family. As regai'ds colour, P. mbplacem has even a more beautiful tail than its near ally ; 
and the markings of this organ are still more vivid. The greatest difference, however, is in the colouring 
of the hack, which is uniform green, while on the back of P. placens a conspicuous mark of blue breaks the 
uniformity of this part ; lastly, although the crowri in both Is of a dilferent colour from the hinder neck, 
it is much brighter and better-defined in the new bird. We have now five very distinct Lorikeets which 
are not second in beauty when compared with any other section of the family. These five species are Psit- 
fcuteles placens, P. subplacens, P. arfahl, P. rubronotatus, and the elegant P. w'dhelmina;. A question now 
arises in my mind, Are there others of the genus yet to be discovered ? or is five the normal number, as is the 
case with many other little groups to \vhich generic a])pellations have been given ? With regard to the sexual 
ditferences in colour, we find the usual distinctive marks In the male and female; that is, the ear-coverts 
are blue in the former, whilst they are yellow in the latter, which may be readily seen by reference to the 
Plates. 
The following is taken from Mr. Sclater’s paper in the ‘Proceedings ’ of the Zoological Society as above 
quoted: — “ Extracts were read from letters received from Signor L. M. D’ Albertis, C.M.Z.S., dated Sydney, 
March 27th,” 1876. 
He “ also exhibited a small collection of bird-skins collected at Yule Island and on the adjoining coast of 
New Guinea, Avhich that gentleman had transmitted to him for e.xamination. 
“ Mr. Sclater stated that, the collection having been only just received, he had not had time to examine 
it carefully, but took the opportunity of pointing out the characters of two apparently new species of Parrots,” 
of one of which the description is as follows ; — 
“ TkICHOGLOSSUS SU15PLACENS, Sp. IIOV. 
Ps'ittuceo-mndis, pUeo sumnio Jiavicante ; macula mo gnu aur'iculan utrhique ccerulea ; subfus dilufior, lateribus 
ef alarum tectricibus irferioribus cocclneis ; remigum pagina infcrlore nigra fascia flam intersecta ; rec- 
fribibus ad basin coccineis, hide nigris flam terminatis, liarum duubiis mediis supra viridibus subtus nigris, 
linea media coccinea versus apicern occuputis ; r astro rtibro ; pedibus rubro-Jlaindls : long, tot a 6' 5, alas 
3*5, caudce 2-8. 
“ Ilab. Mountains of Naiabui, south of New Guinea {U Albertis et Tomasinelli).” 
The Plate represents a male and a female, of the natural size ; and I am indebted to the kindness of Dr. 
Sclater for shewing me these birds and allowing me to figure them. 
