PSITTEUTELES WILHELMINiE.
Wilhelmina Lorikeet.
Trichoglossus wilhelmina, Meyer, J. f. 0.1 8 7 4 , pp. 56, 57, 111.—Id. Sitz, k , Akad. Wissensch. lxix. p. 74 (1874).
I f it were possible to use such a term in speaking o f a bird, I should describe this exquisite little Lorikeet
as being an example o f the multum in parvo principle as regards colouring. Its diminutive size, together
with the g rea t variety o f its tints, combine to render it one o f the most striking o f the birds obtained by
D r. Meyer during his recent travels to New Guinea and the adjacent islands. Although for the present
I associate P . arfaki, P . placens, and this species under one genus, it must not be overlooked that they differ
in one important character, namely in the possession o f fourteen tail-feathers by P . arfaki, whereas
P . placens and P . wilhelmina? have only twelve, like other Parrots. Its beautifully coloured graduated tail
is, in fact, the only character which it possesses in common with P . arfaki, the fashion o f the coloration
being very similar.
In naming this species P . wilhelmince D r. Meyer has paid a graceful compliment to his wife, who has
been a constant companion o f his travels, not only in Europe, but also to the far distant Molucca Islands ;
and I must confess th at it gives me great pleasure in figuring the species in an early number of my work,
and thereby assisting to perpetuate the name o f a lady so heroic.
T h a t other species o f this little genus remain to be discovered one can hardly doubt, seeing the vast
accessions .to our knowledge o f ornithology which each successive collection from the northern p a rt o f New
Guinea brings to us.
On the accompanying Plate two males and a female a re depicted, as nearly o f the natural size as
possible; but it will perhaps be desirable to add a detailed description, since the female differs in some
points from the male as regards the colour and disposition o f the markings; but the most prominent is
the entire absence o f red on the under surface o f the wing. H e r other tints, though similar to the male,
are not so fine.
The following is a description o f a male s e n t:— “ B ill yellow; face, throat, and under surface generally,
lively pale green, with a large patch of lengthened narrow stripes o f yellow on the breast, each stripe
being margined with a dark colour; crown o f the head and nape reddish brown, with narrow blue feathers
interspersed down the la tte r ; mantle and upper surface green*, lower p a rt o f the back fiery red, succeeded
by a patch o f purple, blending into green on the upper tail-coverts; two central tail-feathers black at
their bases, passing into greenish a t their tip s ; the bases o f all the external feathers fiery red, succeeded
by black, and green tip p in g s; on the flank a small patch o f yellow joining the red o f the b a ck ; the feet
appear to have been grey.
“ Total length o f male 4 t inches, wing 2&, tail 21, tarsi I .
“ Hob. New Guinea, passim.”