PA L iE O M IS JLWeiAHI. J Y a r .
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PALJEORNIS LUCIANI, J . Verr.
Bonaparte’s Parrakeet.
Pakeomis Luciana, J. Verr. Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 2nde ser. tom. ii. 1850, p. 598. pi. 13.
------------- erythrogenys, Fras. in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1850, p. 245, Aves, pi. xxvi.
------------- Fraseri, T. J. Moore in Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Iud. Comp., vol. ii. p. 621.
I t not unfrequently happens that living examples o f birds are brought to Europe long before we are in
possession either o f skins or mounted specimens o f them, or even o f a knowledge o f the countries o f which
they are n atives; as an instance in point, I may mention the well-known Grey Parrot (Psittacus erytliacus)
o f Africa, than which np, bird is more common in our menageries, bazaars, &c., while at the same time skins
are so seldom brought that they áre scarcely ever to be met with. In like manner, a considerable number
o f examples o f the present bird have lived in a state o f confinement both in this country and on the
continent; but hitherto no skins have, I believe, reached Europe, and we are unaware o f what part o f the
world it is a native. M. Jules Verreaux, who first characterized the species, took his description from a
bird living in Paris. The accompanying drawing was taken from a specimen now in the Gardens o f the
Zoological Society o f London ; and the only Museum specimens at present known are the two which grace
the fine Derby Museum at Liverpool, both o f which birds died in the late Earl o f Derby’s aviary at
Knowsley.
That the present species is a native o f that part o f India known as the Malayan Peninsula, or some one
o f the Indian Islands, is almost ce rta in ; in the absence, however, o f any information on this point, I would
beg to call the attention o f those who may be favourably situated for acquiring a knowledge o f its habitat,
manners and economy, to the circumstance that any details respecting them will be regarded with especial
interest.
The slightest examination will convince every ornithologist that there is no other species o f Parrot with
which this bird could be confounded. Its tail is shorter and more diminutive than that o f any o f its
immediate congeners, and the rich red o f the cheeks extends entirely round the n e ck : in some specimens
this red colouring becomes very intense, rendering them exceedingly beautiful; the pale emerald-green o f its
back, and the still paler hue o f its chest, constitute other features by which it may be distinguished. In
disposition it is exceedingly unsocial, and all the specimens I have yet seen in captivity were heavy mopish
birds, which latter trait is both striking and curious, as occurring in a member o f the Psittacidce.
Comparatively unknown as this bird is, it has already received several n ames; o f these the one which
has the priority is that assigned to it by M. Jule s Verreaux, who has called it l/uciani, after that great
Prince o f ornithologists, Charles Lucien Bonaparte; it was next named erythrogenys by Mr. Fraser, who
described and figured it under this appellation in the “ Proceedings o f the Zoological S o ciety ” for 1 8 5 0 ;
and, lastly, Mr. Moore having occasion, while assisting Dr. Horsfield in compiling the “ Catalogue o f the
Birds in the Museum o f the East India Company,” to institute a comparison o f it with other nearly allied
species, remarked that the term erythrogenys had been given by Lesson and Blyth to two other birds or
the same g en u s; h e therefore cancelled Mr. Fraser’s name, and proposed that o f Fraseri instead; but this
term must share the same fate, and give place to that o f Luciani, which, as already mentioned, has the
priority.
Crown o f the head grass-green; lores black, which colour is indistinctly carried across the forehead;
cheeks, ear-coverts and sides o f the neck vermilion-red, gradually fading or becoming dull rosy-red on the
back o f the n e ck ; below the cheeks a broad black moustache; general plumage light green, washed with
silvery-grey on the nape, with yellow on the wings, and with verditer on the rump and upper tail-coverts;
primaries and secondaries black, all but the first primary broadly margined, and the secondaries also tipped
with g r e en ; tail grass-green above, with the apical half o f the two centre feathers blue, and the under
surface o f the whole y ellow; under surface light green, becoming light glaucous on the breast; upper
mandible coral-red, under mandible black; irides pale straw-yellow; feet mealy-brown.
The figure is a trifle less than the natural size. The plant is the Garcinia mangostana.