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Show 158 DR. J. MURIE ON GEOPSITTACUS OCCIDENTALIS. [Feb. 27, the East-Indian species in the British Museum. No specimen in that collection agrees with them in tint. The Black Rat, Mus rattus (var. niger), approaches nearest in form and general appearance. Mus rufescens or indicus (Mus kok, Gray) is considerably darker and rufescent in shade. The Mus darwinii, Waterh., P. Z. S. 1837, p. 28, besides differing in colour and size, has a much broader, leaf-like ear, although the specimens in question have it nearly as long. Whether considered merely as a pale variety of the Black Rat, or as indicating a variation towards separation into a specific type, I may be justified in placing on record a description of the external characters. Hair fine. Tail clothed with very short, close-set, white hairs. Ears large and somewhat leaf-like, naked and of a pinkish or flesh-colour. Sides of body of a light-yellowish hue. Forehead and back inclining to a more brownish tinge. Nose and rump of a purplish-grey colour. Under parts of body white. Whiskers long, fine, and black. The size, somewhat naked tail, and other characters show it to be a true rat, and not belonging to the group of mice. The admeasurements of one specimen are as follows:- . , 1 inches. Length from snout to tip of tail 11*3 of head 1*6 of body 4*8 of tail (partly injured, probably an inch longer) . . 4*9 Ears in length 1 inch, greatest breadth 0*7 inch. Length of sole of foot 1 inch, and including toes 1*3 inch. 2. O n the Nocturnal Ground-Parrakeet (Geopsittacus occidentalis, Gould). By J A M E S M U R I E , M.D., F.L.S., Prosector to the Society. Of this singular " Strigops-looking " Parrakeet, first made known to ornithologists through Mr. Gould's description (P. Z. S. 1861, p. 100) from a skin sent him from Perth, in Western Australia, nothing further has been learned until lately. N o living specimen had been seen by naturalists in this country, when Dr. Mueller, of Melbourne, our active and obliging Corresponding Member, transmitted to this country a specimen of parrotlike bird, which proved to be the Western or Nocturnal Ground-Parrakeet of Mr. Gould, Geopsittacus occidentalis *. In a letter to Dr. Sclater, it is described by Dr. Mueller as inhabiting the Gawler Ranges in South Australia, and in some respects to be a night-bird, like the Nightjars and Owls. During the short period it remained in the Gardens, its habits * Gould, ' Handbook to Birds of Australia,' 1865, vol. ii. p. 88; and the ' Birds of Australia,' Suppl. part iv. pl. 2, and text, 1867. |