NASITERNA BECCARIl, SalvacL 
Beccciri’s Pygrniy Parrot. 
Nasiterna hcccarii, Salvad. Ann. Mns. Civic. Genov, viii. p. 396 (1876), x. p. 26. sp. 
13 (1877). 
Of this bird, whicb is closely allied to N. piisio. Count Salvadori has lent me the single speeimen at present 
known ; and I have had the satisfaction of figuring it liere for the first time. It differs from all the other 
Nasiternce which I have seen. On the head is a well-defined cap of dull indigo-hlue surrounded hy brown, 
the remainder of the plumage being green, as in the other members of the genus, with black spots on the 
shoulder moderately strongly indicated. It is certaiidy one of the smallest sj)ecies ; and the spines on the 
tall are hut little developed ; the bill is small for a Nasiterna, and of a light horn-colour. I here aj)pears no 
indication of an orange-red patch in the centre of the body, as is the case with N pi/g’ineea and N. hniijni', 
hut, as the only specimen at ])resent in our hands is a female, it is impossible to speak very positively on 
this ])oint. 
I owe to the kindness of Count Salvadori the following note on the present species : — “ I only know of a 
female of this Parrot, which was collected hyBeccari near Wairoro, on the coast of Geelvink Bay, more than 
one degree to the south of Dorey. 1 have compared this specimen with N.pusio, to which it is nearly allied ; 
and it differs from the latter species in the blue colour of the crowm being more extended and brighter, in 
the brown colour of the cheeks being darker, and in the smaller dimensions. The bill is rather small, as in 
N. pusio and N. pypyicea"' 
For the accomj)anylng description I am also indebted to the Count : — 
“ Green, the underparts being much lighter ; middle of the crown dull blue, the edges of the feathers black ; 
forehead and sides of the head brown, the sides of the najie greenish brown ; the two centre tail-feathers 
blue with a black spot near the tip ; lateral rectrices black, edged externally with greeti and with a yellowish 
orange s])ot at the tip of the inner web. Size of N. pygmoia." 
The Plate contains a life-sized representation of the present species in two jtositions, taken from the 
ty})ical specimen. I have also introduced into the picture a figure of Eupholus hennetti, a magtiificent beetle 
recently described from South-eastern New Guinea ; and I have figured this fine insect with the greatest 
pleasure, in compliment to the gentleman whose name it bears, Dr. Bennett of Sydney, who has for many 
years beeii known to naturalists as an active patron and promoter of seience in his adopted country. 
