NASITERNA PYGM^EA. 
Pyg*my Parrot. 
Psittacus QPsittacula^ pygniceiis, Quoy & Gaim. Voy. de I’Astrol. Zool. i. (1830) p. 232, pi. 21. fig. 1 (c? juv.), 
fig. 2 (?). 
Nasiterna pygmaa, Wagler, Monogr. Psitt. p. 631 (1832). — Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 423 (1846). — Bp. Consp. i. 
p. 6 (1850).— Id. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 156.— Id. in Naumannia, 1856, Extrali. iv.— Sclater, 
Proc. Linn. Soc. ii. p. 166 (1858).— Gray, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 195. — Id. List Psitt. Brit. Mus. p. 52 
(1859).— Id. Cat. B. New Guinea, pp. 43, 60 (1859).— Id. P. Z. S. 1861, p. 437.— Schl. J. f. O. 1861, 
p. 377 . — Rosenb. op. cit. 1862, pp. 63, 64, 68. — Wall. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 165, 1864, pp. 281, 293. — 
Rosenb. Tijdschr. Ned. Ind. xxv. p. 226 (1863).— Id. J. f. O. 1863, p. 226.— Bernst. Tijdschr. Ned. 
Ind. xxvii. p. 297 (1864). — Id. N. T. D. ii. p. 327 (1865).— Finsch, Neu-Guinea, p. 158 (1865).— 
Schl. N. T. D. hi. p. 331 (1866, pt.).— Finsch, Papag. i. p. 325 (1867).— Gray, Hand-1. B. ii. p. 168 
(1870).— Schl. N. T. D. iv. pp. 5, 7 (1871, pt.).— Id. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, Revue, p. 71 (1874).— 
Meyer, Sitz. Isis Dresd. 1875, p. 76.— Rosenb. Reist. naar Geelvinkb. p. 56 (1875).— Salvad. Arm. 
Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 985 (1875). — Rowley, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 470. — Id. Orn. Miscell. 1876, p. 154, 
pi. xix. (c?), pi. XX. (?).— Finsch, t. e. p. 161 (1876).— Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, x. p. 25 (1877). 
Micropsitta pygmcea. Less. Compl. Bull. Ois. p. 607, pi., fig. 2 (1838). 
Micropsites pygmceiis, Bourj. Perroq. pi. c. (1837-38). 
Psittacus pygmceus, S. Mtill. Verh. Land- en Volkenk. pp. 22, 107 (1839-44). — Schl. Handl. Dierk. i. p. 480, 
pi. hi. no. 37 (1858). 
Psittacus (^Nasiternd) pygmceus, Schl. Handl. Dierk. i. p. 185 (1858). 
Psittaculn pygmcea, Schl. Dirent. p. 67, cum fig. (1864). — Id. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, p. 74 (1864). 
Of the very singular group of diminutive Parrots the N. pygmcea is the oldest known ; and a considerable 
interval of time elapsed before an addition was made by the discovery of the N. pusio. The later 
explorations, however, that have been made in New Guinea and its surrounding satellites have rewarded 
travellers with at least four or five others, to which Professor Schlegel, Dr. Meyer, Count Salvadori, and 
others have applied specific appellations. That more still remain hidden in the forests of Papuana is 
probable. Up to this time (1878) I consider there are seven species only for me to deal with in the 
present work. These have many characteristics in common : — first, their very diminutive size and dispro- 
portionately large bills when contrasted with the body ; the structure of their feet and greatly prolonged 
outer hind toe are peculiarities, as is also the spiny terminations of the four or six central tail-feathers. The 
group to which the Nasiternce are most nearly allied appears to me to be Cyclopsitta, a section of little 
Parrots inhabiting the same country. Although all the species of Nasiterna are remarkable for their tiny 
size, and a somewhat general resemblance reigns throughout the whole group, yet difterences are to be detected. 
These distinctions may be readily seen by turning to the various Plates representing the species, and be 
rendered more intelligible than by written explanations. 
Count Salvadori, who has in the most liberal manner forwarded me all the information and synonymy of 
the present group of birds, extracted from his forthcoming work on the ornithology of New Guinea, has also 
kindly sent me notes on the several species. “ This Parrot {Nasiterna pygmcea) inhabits New Guinea, 
Salwatty, Waigiou, Guebeh, Mysol, and Koffiao. In New Guinea it has been found near Dorey, 
where it was first discovered, as well as in the neighbourhood of Andai, Dorey-Hum, and Mtanata. I have 
seen specimens from all these localities. The late Mr. G. R. Gray mentions the Louisiade archipelago as 
one of the habitats ; but if a Nasiterna really occurs there, it would doubtless be specifically distinct. 
The same may be said of the island of Jobi, where Von Rosenberg asserts the existence cA N. pygmcea, 
though no specimen of a Nasiterna from that island is contained in the Leiden Museum. 
“ I lately examined the two specimens in the latter collection from the Am Islands, mentioned by Schlegel 
as differing from those of New Guinea in the ochraceous yellow colour of the pileum. These specimens, 
which were in rather bad condition, seemed to me to be not different from my N. keiensis ; and if this proves 
to be the case, the latter name is not a very appropriate one for the species. 
