Psittaculus galgulus. - Wagler.

Sapphire Crowned Psittacule. Native of the Indian Islands.

Psittaculus vernalis, Swains. 2d Series Illust. (young male). - Psittacus galgulus, Lath. Ind. Orn. v. i. p. 130, sp. 148. (exclu. var. B.) - Psitt. vernalis, Id. i. 130, sp. 147. - Petite Perruche de Perou, Pl. Enl. 190. f. 2. - Sapphire-crowned Paraket, Edwards, pl. 293. f. 2 - Lath. Syn. i. 312, sp, 117 - Vernal Parrakeet, Lath. Syn. - Swains. 2d Series Illust.

Mr Swainson, in the Second Series of his beautiful Illustrations, has figured and described this bird nearly in the same state it is represented upon our plate, under the title of Psittaculus vernalis, supposing it a distinct species, or at least not aware that it was the young or immature male of the Psittacus galgulus of authors. This, at least, is the opinion of Wagler, who, in his "Monographia Psittacorum" has described it as such, and brought the synonymes of these two supposed species together. As to the correctness of his views in so doing, we are bound, in the first instance, to consider them as being so, presuming that the evidence upon which he established their identity was satisfactory and conelusive; for ourselves, we have not had an opportu nity of tracing these birds through their different stages, but we know, that, in size, and in a great measure in colour, they nearly agree, and Mr Swain-son himself has noticed in his description the resem-blance of the vernalis to the galgulus, in the peculiar colour of the under surface of the wings, without, however, any remarks or conjecture as to the probability of their belonging to the same species, under different states of plumage or age. In retaining the generic title of Psittaculus for this and some other diminutive forms belonging to the Indian islands and those of Australia, we do not include all the species embraced by Kuhl's section of that name, or even the genus of Wagler, which, though more restricted, admits of birds marked by strong differential characters, and widely separated, so far as regards their geographical distribution. In the state we have figured it, the upper parts are of a fine lively green, with the exception of the rump and upper tail-coverts, which are crimson-red, and it shews but a slight indication of the fine blue, which marks the crown of the adult. In the mature state, also, the throat, instead of being orange-coloured, is of a fine red, and a crescent of orange-yellow encircles the lower part of the hind neck. The bill in the adult is reddish-black; in the young and female it is red.

Plate 24. Psittaculus Galgulus.

E.Lear del.

Lizars sc.