Volume Iii Part 13 (1/2)
It will appear extraordinary, that this very common sh.e.l.l should have been unknown to Linnaeus; and still more, that no other systematic writer should have noticed it, excepting Gmelin, by whom it is placed as a variety of _S.
gallus_, although his _S. raninus_ is obviously made from a bad figure in Knorr of this same sh.e.l.l. On referring to Mr. Dillwyn's account of _S.
gallus_, I find all the references of Gmelin to this sh.e.l.l expunged; and a note at the head of the genus states, that _S. raninus_ is undeserving of notice; thus every trace of the sh.e.l.l, in this work, is altogether lost.
The two lobes at the top of the outer lip form a strong and peculiar distinction of this species: the colour of the mouth is variable; though usually tinged with pink, it is often reddish, or red blended with yellow, and sometimes nearly white; within the upper part of the aperture, round the inner lip, are one or two strong plaits, with sulcated grooves on each side; and near the lobe at the base of the outer lip, the aperture has a few obsolete striae: the nodules on the body whorl are triangular, and the two nearest the lip are, in general, very large: the channel (or base) is short, and turned up in an oblique direction.
Found, in great abundance, in various parts of the West India seas.
Pl. 154
[Ill.u.s.tration]
PSITTACUS Malaccensis,
_Blue-rumped Parrot._
GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 1.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
_P. viridis; vertice uropygioque nitide caeruleis; tectricibus interioribus, corporisque lateribus coccineis; cauda flavescente; rostro magno, dentato._
Green; crown and rump sapphire blue; inner wing covers and sides of the body crimson; tail yellowish; bill large, toothed.
P. Malaccensis. _General Zoology_, _vol._ 8. 2. _p._ 554.
Blue-rumped Parrakeet. _Lath. Syn. Sup._ 1. _p._ 66.
I think this may be the bird described (according to Latham) by Sonnerat, under the name of _Pet.i.te perruche de Malacca_, and from which both Latham and Shaw have framed their account of the Blue-rumped Parrot. On comparing their descriptions with the following, some differences and omissions will be found, but not sufficient, I think, to justify the idea of this being a distinct species: I have, as yet, seen only one specimen (and that not perfect) of this rare and little known bird.
Total length six inches; bill unusually large and strong, being three quarters of an inch (in a straight line) long, and nearly the same in height at the base; upper mandible with a sharp tooth in the middle, and reddish orange; under mandible violet grey; front and crown of the head violet blue, changing to blackish green on the back, and greyish green on the sides of the head, neck, and breast; body and vent green; rump and upper tail covers vivid azure blue; spurious wings greenish blue; wing covers dark but bright green, margined more or less with yellowish; quills blue green, their inner webs black; under wing covers and sides of the body crimson; tail short, even, the two middle feathers above green, the rest yellow with green edges and black shafts; beneath, these feathers are all yellow, the shafts white; the wings, for the size of the bird, are very long, measuring four inches and a half.
Pl. 155
[Ill.u.s.tration]
PSITTACUS viridissimus,