NASITERNA MAFORENSIS. 
Mafor Pyg*niy Parrot. 
Nasiterna pygmcea geelvinMana D. \v. p. 7 (1871). — Rosenb. Reist. naar Geelvinkb. p. 137 
(pt., 1875). 
geehinldana (pt.), Schleg. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, Revue, p. 71 (1874). — Meyer, Sitz. Isis zu Dresden, 
1875, p, 76 (pt.). — Rowley, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 470, — Id. Orn. Misc. p. 153, pi. xviii. (1876). — Beccari, 
Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 714 (1875, pt.). 
pygmcea, Rosenb. Reist. naar Geelvinkb. p. 36 (1875, nec Q. & G.). 
maforensis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 908 (1875).^ — Sclater, Ibis, 1876, p. 358. — Salvad. 
Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, x. p. 26 (1877). 
As Dr. Meyer during bis visit to tlie Island of Mafor does not appear to have procured any NasiterncB, I 
have been indebted to Count Salvador! and Mr. Dawson Rowley for the four examples which have been 
examined by me ; and to the former gentleman I am under special obligations for an elaborate note on the 
species, as well as its complete synonymy. 
The present species is very nearly allied to N. misonensis \ hut under existing circumstances they must, 
in my opinion, be considered distinct species. In both of them the hills are disproportionately large, 
giving their faces an outre unpleasant aspect ; and the bill and feathers of the face are frequently covered 
with a dirty glutinous substance, which does not improve their appearance. 
Count Salvadorl writes to me as follows : — “This species is peculiar to the island of Mafor. Both male 
and female have the crown blue ; and in this respect N, maforensis differs from N. mlsorlensls. When I dis- 
criminated the two species I woidd willingly have left Schlegel’s name of geehinkiana to the bird of Mafor; 
but as the latter name, which belongs equally to both sj>ecies, would have been a constant source of confu- 
sion, I thought it better to give a new title to the Mafor bird also. 
“ This is the species figured by Mr. Dawson Rowley in his ‘Ornithological Miscellany;’ but the description 
given by Dr. Finsch In the same work, under the heading of N. geeklnkiana, probably applies to the female 
of the Misori bird. 
“ Von Rosenberg has the following remarks on the present species : — ‘The small Nasiterna is common ; and 
the natives, who are very clever, brought me several specimens, alive and dead, of the adult and young. This 
pretty little bird is especially abundant in the neighhourhood of Roemsaro. It nests in the holes of trees ; 
and the female lays two eggs, not larger than those of our Long-tailed Titmouse {Parus caudatus). They 
breed in January and February, which is the breeding-season also for other Parrots.’” 
The following diagnosis of the species has been sent to me by Count Salvador! : — 
Adult male. Green; pileum brown, the feathers edged with bright blue ; cheeks brown, with the edges 
of some of the feathers bluish ; nape green like the back, with a yellowish-green spot in the middle, not 
very conspicuous ; centre of the breast and of the abdomen ochraceous yellow ; under tail-coverts and a spot 
at the tip of the three outer tail-feathers yellow, the lateral ones black, the outer ones edged with green. 
"•Female, Like that of N, misoriensis, but the feathers of the crown edged with brighter blue. Dimen- 
sions nearly the same as those of N. misoriensis.^' 
The figures in the Plate are those of a male and a female, of the natural size, drawn from birds lent to 
me by Mr. Dawson Rowley and Count Salvador!. 
