P S I TT A C E L L A M A D A R A S Z I, Meyer. 
Madarasz’s Parrakeet. 
PsUtncelln madaraazi, Meyer, Zcit.schr. ges, Orn. in. p. 4, tab. i. fig. I (1880). 
])u. Meyeu describes tliis species as being similar to Psittacella modesta from North-western New Guinea, 
but smaller, and with the head and under surface of the body distinctly more yellow. It was found by 
Mr. Hunstein in the Horseshoe range of the Owen Statdey Mountains, at a height of 7000 feet, atid 
Mr. Forbes has also met with it in the Sogeri district of the Astrolabe Mountains in South-eastern 
New Guinea. Not having an example of P. modesta in the British Museum, we have not been able to 
institute a comparison between the two species, and in figuring P. madaraszi we must leave to future 
research the task of more strictly defining the species, the characters of which do not appear very strongly 
marked. Perhaps the green colour of the breast, to which Dr. Meyer draws attention, Instead of the dull 
olive-coloured breast of P. modesta, may prove to be a good specific character. 
Dr. Meyer also received a female bird from Mr. Hunstein, which he thinks may not be in full plumage, 
hut which differs from the hen of P. modesta in having the head green, the forehead blue, and the nape 
more or less barred across with black and red. He is not sure that the bird so described is the female of 
P. madaraszi, and thinks that it may belong to an nndescribed species. 
The following is a description of one of Mr. Hunstein’s specimens in the British Museum : — 
Adult male. General colour above green, the lower back and rump barred with yellow and black, the 
yellow bars broader than the black ones; wing-coverts like the back, the edge of the wing cobalt-blue; 
bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills green externally, the itmer webs blackish, the ]n-imaries darker 
and more bluish green on the outer wehs, which are narrowly bordered with yellow near the ends ; upper 
tail-coverts more yellowish green than the back; tail-feathers dark green with black shafts; crown of head, 
nape, and hind neck ochreous brown, mottled with dark brown edges and yellow shaft-lines to the feathers ; 
forehead, lores, and feathers in front of the eye sooty brown ; sides of face and ear-coverts like the head, 
the latter similarly streaked with yellow ; cheeks and throat ochreous-brown washed with green ; fore neck 
and breast green ; abdomen and sides of body lighter and more yellowish green, washed on the Hanks with 
darker green ; thighs dark green ; under tail-coverts scarlet ; under wing-coverts and axillaries yellowish 
green, blue near the edge of the wing ; quills below dusky, olive-yellow along the inner edge. Total length 
5*5 inches, culmen 0‘6, wing 3‘95, tail 1-9, tarsus 0'5. 
The Plate gives an illustration of a male, but in two positions, the figures being drawn from the same 
specimen we have described above. 
[R. B. S.] 
