4. ON NEW BIRDS IN THE COLLECTION AT KNOWSLEY. BY MR. LOUIS FRASER. IN A LETTER TO THE SECRETARY.

(Aves, Pl. XXV.-XXIX.)

Knowsley Hall, November 11, 1850. SIR,-Having received a notification, through Lord Derby, of my appointment to the Consulship at Whydah, my stay in England is necessarily drawing to a close. I have endeavoured to meet your wishes by forwarding a few brief descriptions from novelties contained in this extraordinary Collection, and with his lordship's permission 1 forward the original drawings made by Mr. Wolf, who has been engaged here for some considerable time.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

D. W. Mitchell, Esq., Sec. Zool. Soc. Lond.

LOUIS FRASER.

The first specimen to which I would wish to draw the attention of the Society is a Parrakeet of large size, which I propose calling

PALEORNIS DERBIANUS. (Aves, Pl. XXV.)

Forehead, round the nostrils, a small stripe from the nostrils to the eyes, and a broad moustache, black; head, towards the bill and round the eyes, green, passing into a light violet-blue on the occiput and earcoverts; the remaining upper parts of the bird, the thighs, vent and under tail-coverts green, being more yellow on the back of the neck and centre of the wings; the shafts of the two centre tail-feathers dark purplish brown, with their webs, towards the apex, blue; from the hinder part of the ears, down the side of the neck, and behind the moustache, runs a narrow line of light rose-coloured purple, which colour extends over the whole under surface; the under side of the tail-feathers greyish yellow; bill black; feet the usual parrakeet colour; eyes pale straw-colour.

Hab.

Length from base of beak to tip of tail, 20 inches.
Curve of upper mandible. . .

Wing

Tail

?

83

This specimen has been many years in this collection, and I have chosen for its specific name that of its noble owner. The species is easily distinguished from all the other members of the genus by its larger size, and the colours of the bill, head and breast.

The next bird is a second species of the same genus.

PALEORNIS ERYTHROGENYS. (Aves, Pl. XXVI.)

Male: Green; the back, between the shoulders, mealy; cheeks and ear-coverts red, which colour passes on to the hind head, where