PLATYCERCUS IGNITUS, Leadb.
Fiery Parrakeet.
Platycercus ignitus, Leadb. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 8.
In the year 1837 Mr. John Leadbeater received from the district of Moreton Bay a beautiful Parrakeet, of which the accompanying Plate is a representation. This specimen, the only one I have seen, is the most singular and anomalous bird that has ever come under my notice; for while on the one hand it exhibits many features which would lead one to believe it to be merely a diseased variety of some other species, on the other there is sufficient decision in some of its markings to warrant the opinion that it is distinct; I allude particularly to the decided mark of white at the base of the primaries and secondaries, and to the white mark on the under-coverts of the wing: it is true that in the youthful state of most of the other Platycerci the same parts have a faint mark of white, but it is thrown off as the bird approaches maturity, and is never so distinct as in the specimen here figured. As I have mentioned above, only one specimen has yet been seen; future research will doubtless lead to the discovery of others, until when its specific value must remain a matter of uncertainty. It is most nearly allied to the Platycerci eximius and splendidus.
The example from which my figures were taken adorns the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, to which it was presented by Mr. John Leadbeater.
Crown of the head, ear-coverts, rump, breast and under surface of the body scarlet; cheeks white; feathers of the back black in the centre, and margined with intermingled scarlet and yellow; middle of the wing deep blue; primaries and secondaries white at the base, forming a very broad and decided band, and brown at the tip; tertiaries green; four middle tail-feathers washed with scarlet, the remainder white at the base, and then blue, gradually fading into white at the tip; bill yellowish horn-colour; feet dark brown.
The figures represent the bird in two positions of the natural size.