NASITERNA MISORIENSIS. 
Misori Pyg’my Parrot. 
Nasiterna pygmaa geelvinkiana (pt.), Schl. N. T. D. iv. p. 7 (1871). — Roseub. Reist. naar Geelviiikb. p. 137 
(1875, pt.). 
geelvinJciana (pt.), Schl. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, Revue, p. 71 (1874). — Meyer, Sitz. Isis zu Dresden, 
1875, p. 76 (pt.). — Beccari, Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 714 (1875, pt.). — Finsch, Orn. Misc. 
p. 160 (1876). 
misoriensis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 909 (1875), x. p. 26 (1877), 
misorensis, Sclater, Ibis, 1876, p. 358. 
Fob a comparison of the present species with N. maforensis, I may refer my readers to the Plates of the two, 
where it will be seen that these Pygmy Parrots, although closely allied, appear to possess good specific 
characters. 1 owe to the courtesy of Dr. Meyer two mounted specimens of the Misori bird, the male 
having a widely spread mark of orange-yellow down the abdomen, a feature apparently wanting in theoppo.site 
sex ; and Count Salvador! has also favoured me with a sight of the type specimen obtained by Beccari. 
All the males had brown heads, with a distinct lunate mark of yellow on the na|)e, while the females had the 
browm suffused with bluish. 
Count Salvador! writes to me: — “This species is peculiar to the island of Misoi'i, where Von Roseid)erg 
was the first to collect specimens. He obtained a male and two females, which Prof. Schlegel referred to 
\\\% NasUerm pijgniCBa geelmiklana along with the Mafor specimens. \Fhen Beccari sent home examples 
from both localities, I determined those from Misori as belonging to a different species from those of Mafor. 
“ The adult male is easy to distinguish by reason of his brown head with a very cons])icuous yellow spot 
on the nape. 
“ Dr. Finsch has described (/. c.) two specimens of this bird collected by Dr. Meyer in Misori, which 
Dr. Finsch seems to think is the same as Mafor. I should say that his descrij)tion of the su])posed male 
has been taken from a female, and that the description of the supposed female was that of a young bird ; 
one thing is quite certain, that neither the one nor the other of the specimens described by him were adult.” 
I have received the following note from Dr. Meyer: — “I noticed in my diary, under the beading of 
N, pygmoea geelmnkiam from Mysore (Kordo) : — ‘ Colour of tbe eyes orange-yellow ; feet and claws 
bluish grey, the underparts of the feet somewhat yellowish. Bill bluish grey, the base of the lower mandible 
white. Cere black, the nostrils surrounded by an elevated thick fleshy ring. Head covered with many little 
white parasites (lice). In the stomach the remains of fruit.’” 
I subjoin a description of the species, sent to me along with the synonymy by Count Salvador!. 
“ Male. Green ; head brown, with a conspicuous yellow spot on the na|)e ; round the neck there is a 
slight indication of a blue collar ; middle of the breast and abdomen bright ochraceous yellow ; under 
tail-coverts and a spot at the tip of the inner web of the three outer tail-feathers pure yellow ; the 
two middle tail-feathers blue, with a small black spot, scarcely visible, near tbe tip ; the outer tail-feathers 
edged externally with green, the spiny tip of the rectrices rather long ; bill strong, of a greyish colour ; 
iris orange-red. (Beccari.^ 
'•'■Female. Green ; pileum brown, with the feathers of the vertex edged with dull blue ; cheeks brownish 
green ; underparts yellowish green ; under tail-coverts yellow ; tail as in the male. 
“Total length 3*6 inches, culmen 0‘45, wing 2T, tail T2.” 
I have figured on the Plate two males and a female, of the size of life ; and for the o])portunity of figuring 
these I have to thank Dr. Meyer, who, with his usual liberality, sent me over his fine specimens for the 
purpose. 
