Mulga Parrot

SCI Name:  Psephotus varius
Protonym:  Psephotus varius Auk 27 p.80
Taxonomy:  Psittaciformes / Psittaculidae / Psephotus
Taxonomy Code:  mulpar1
Type Locality:  According to Mathews the type locahty of Ps. multicolor Kuhl is at the head of Spencer Gulf, Australia.
Author:  Clark, AH
Publish Year:  1910
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PSEPHOTUS
(Psittacidae; Ϯ Red-rumped Parrot P. haematonotus) Gr. ψηφωτος psēphōtos  inlaid with mosaic stones or jewels  < ψηφος psēphos  mosaic stone; Slater et al. 1989, consider the epithet to refer to the pattern of the cheek-feathers of this small parrot, but Gould does not allude to that feature; "PSEPHOTUS HÆMATONOTUS, Gould.   Red-backed Parrakeet.   ...   Their movements on the ground are characterized by much grace and activity, and although assembled in one great mass running over the ground like Plovers, they are generally mated in pairs,—a fact easily ascertained by the difference in the colouring of the sexes; the rich red mark on the rump of the male appearing, as the bright sun shines upon it, like a spot of fire.  ...   rump scarlet; tip and under surface of the shoulder, spurious wing, and the outer edge of the basal half of the primaries rich ultramarine blue; the blue of the shoulder above passing into sulphur-yellow, and forming a conspicuous spot of the latter colour in the centre of the shoulder" (Gould 1845); "Psephotus Gould, Bds. Austr., pt. 19, 1845, pl. [7]; [= 5, pl. 36 of bound volume]. Type, by monotypy, Platycercus haematonotus Gould." (Peters 1937, III, 265). 

varius
L. varius  various, diverse, variegated.
● ex “Cassican de la Nouvelle Guinée” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 628, and “Pied Roller” of Latham 1781 (syn. Cracticus cassicus).
● ex “Suirirí chorreado debaxo” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 187 (Empidonomus).
● ex “Huppe du cap de bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 697, “Huppe noire et blanche” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Madagascar Hoopoe” of Latham 1783 (Fregilupus).
● ex “Basterd Baltimore female” of Catesby 1731-1743, “Carouge de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 607, fig. 1, and “Chesnut and black Baltimore” of Latham 1782 (syn. Icterus spurius).
● ex “Bunter Fasan” of Frisch 1735, “Phasianus albus et rufo varius” of Brisson 1760, and "Faisan varié” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Phasianus colchicus).
● ex “Varied Parrot” of Latham 1822 (Psephotellus).
● ex “Yellow-belly’d Wood-pecker” of Catesby 1731 (Sphyrapicus).
● ex “Pied Shag” of Latham 1785 (Stictocarbo).
● ex “Ispida indica” of Aldrovandus 1599-1603, “Todus varius” of Brisson 1760, and “Todier varié” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (unident.; ?Nectariniidae).