Head small, oblong, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Body much compressed. Feet large, long; tibia bare a considerable way above the joint, and reticulated; tarsus long, stout, compressed, anteriorly covered with very broad scutella, laterally and posteriorly with two series of broad scutella, between which on the posterior edge is a series of very minute scales; hind toe comparatively small, middle toe longest, and much longer than the tarsus, fourth longer than second; toes free, slender, compressed, with numerous broad scutella above, obliquely flattened beneath, marginate; claws very long, slender, slightly arched, much compressed, tapering to a very acute point. Plumage blended, firm, glossy, the feathers ovato-oblong, broad at the end. Wings rather long, broad, rather concave; ovula large: primaries incurvate, broad, third longest, second a twelfth of an inch shorter, fourth two-twelfths shorter than second, which exceeds the first by eleven-twelfths; secondaries broad and grounded. Tail short, much rounded, of twelve rather weak, rounded feathers, which but slightly exceed the lower coverts. Frontal plate ultramarine blue; bill bright carmine, tipped with bright yellow. Iris bright carmine; margins of eyelids white. Tarsi, toes, and claws bright yellow. Head, fore part of neck, and breast rich purplish-blue; abdomen and feathers of legs dusky; sides green; lower wing-coverts light green; sides of the neck light purplish-blue, shaded into verdigris and brownish-green above; the fore part of the back verdigris-green, shaded with olivaceous; the hind part and upper tail-coverts olivaceous; the coverts and outer webs of the quills greenish-blue, the inner webs clove-brown; tail-feathers olivaceous. Length to end of tail 13-1/2 inches, to end of wings 13-1/2, to end of claws 18; extent of wings 21-1/2; bill along the ridge, including frontal plate 2; edge of lower mandible 1-1/4; tarsus 2-1/4; hind toe 1, its claw 10/12; middle toe 2-4/12, its claw 9/12. Weight of one individual 7-1/2 oz., of another 8-1/2, both males; of a fourth 7 oz.; of a fifth 5-1/2; and of a sixth only 4-1/2. The female is somewhat smaller, but similar to the male, the frontal plate is less extended, and the tints of the plumage a little less vivid. The young are at first covered with black down. When fledged they are olivaceous on the upper parts, dull purple beneath; the bill dull green. After the first moult, the bill is light carmine, greenish-yellow at the end, the head dark purple; the plumage coloured as above described, but less brilliant, the tarsi and toes greenish-yellow.