PLATYCERCUS IGNITUS, Leaas. 
Fiery Parrakeet. 
Platycercus wgnitus, Leadb. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p- 8. 
In the year 1837 Mr. John Leadbeater received from the district of Moreton Bay a beautiful Parrakeet, of 
which the accompanying Plate is a representation. This specimen, the only one I have seen, is the most 
singular and anomalous bird that has ever come under my notice ; for while on the one hand it exhibits 
many features which would lead one to believe it to be merely a diseased variety of some other species, 
on the other there is sufficient decision in some of its markings to warrant the opinion that it is distinct ; 
I allude particularly to the decided mark of white at the base of the primaries and secondaries, and to the 
white mark on the under-coverts of the wing: it is true that in the youthful state of most of the other 
Platycerci the same parts have a faint mark of white, but it is thrown off as the bird approaches maturity, and 
is never so distinct as in the specimen here figured. As I have mentioned above, only one specimen has yet 
been seen ; future research will doubtless lead to the discovery of others, until when its specific value must 
remain a matter of uncertainty. It is most nearly allied to the Platycerct eximius and splendidus. . 
The example from which my figures were taken adorns the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, 
to which it was presented by Mr. John Leadbeater. . 
Crown of the head, ear-coverts, rump, breast and under surface of the body scarlet ; cheeks white ; 
feathers of the back black in the centre, and margined with intermingled scarlet and yellow; middle of the 
wing deep blue ; primaries and secondaries white at the base, forming a very broad and decided band, and 
brown at the tip; tertiaries green; four middle tail-feathers washed with scarlet, the remainder white at 
the base, and then blue, gradually fading into white at the tip ; bill yellowish horn-colour ; feet dark brown. 
The figures represent the bird in two positions of the natural size. 
