NA SITERNA BECCARII, Salvad.
Beccari’s Pyg'my Parrot.
Nasiterna beccarii, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, viii. p. 396 (1876), x. p. 26. sp. 13 (1877).
O f this bird, which is closely allied to N . pusio, Count Salvadori has lent me the single specimen a t present
known ; and I have had the satisfaction o f figuring it here for the first time. I t differs from all the other
Nasiternce which I have seen. On the head is a well-defined cap o f dull indigo-blue surrounded by brown,
the remainder o f the plumage being green, as in the other members o f the genus, with black spots on the
shoulder moderately strongly indicated. It is certainly one o f the smallest species ; and the spines on the
tail are but little developed; the bill is small for a Nasiterna, and o f a light horn-colour. T h ere appears no
indication o f an orange-red patch in the centre of the body, as is the case with N . pygmaea and N. bruijni;
but, as the only specimen at present in our hands is a female, it is impossible to speak very positively on
this point.
I owe to the kindness o f Count Salvadori the following note on the present species:— “ I only know o f a
female of this Parro t, which was collected byBeccari near W airoro, on the coast of Geelvink Bay, more than
one degree to the south o f Dorey. I have compared this specimen with N. pusio, to which it is nearly allied ;
and it differs from the latter species in the blue colour o f the crown being more extended and brighter, in
the brown colour o f the cheeks being darker, and in the smaller dimensions. The bill is rather small, as in
N. pusio and N . pygmcea.”
F o r the accompanying description I am also indebted to the C o u n t:—
“ Green, the underparts being much l ig h te r ; middle o f the crown dull blue, the edges o f the feathers black;
forehead and sides of the head brown, the sides o f the nape greenish brown ; the two centre tail-feathers
blue with a black spot near the t ip ; lateral rectrices black, edged externally with green and with a yellowish
orange spot a t the tip of the inner web. Size o f N . pygmcea
The Plate contains a life-sized representation of the present species in two positions, taken from the
typical specimen. I have also introduced into the picture a figure o f Eupholus bennetti, a magnificent beetle
recently described from South-eastern New G u in ea; and I have figured this fine insect with the greatest
pleasure, in compliment to the gentleman whose name it bears, D r. Bennett of Sydney, who has for many
years been known to n aturalists as an active patron and promoter of science in his adopted country.