502 



NESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



ORDER— PSITTACI : PARROTS. 



FAMILY— LORIID.^ : LORIES, OR BRUSH-TONGUED 

 PARROTS. 



463. — Trichoglossus nov^-hollandi;e, Gmelin. — (444) 

 T. multicolor, Gmelin. 



BLUE-BELLIED LORIKEET. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 48. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 57. 

 Previous Demriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Science Record 

 {1883); North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 266, pi. 14, fig. 8 (1889). 



Geoi/raphiriil Dixfrihufion. — Australia (except, pcrhap.s. West and 

 North-west), and Tasmania. 



NeM. — Witliin a hole of a branch or bole of a large tree. 



Enf/s. — Clutch, two usually ; round in shape, but compressed or 

 sharply nipped off at one end ; texture of shell somewhat fine ; surface 

 dull, Ijut ocasionally has a slight trace of gloss and sometimes limy 

 nodules; colour, white. Dimensions in inches of odd examples: 



(1) 1-12 X -89. (2) 1-06 X -88; of a proper pair: (1) Mix -94, 



(2) 1-08 X -95. 



Ohxervations. — The many-coloured and beautiful so-called Blue 

 Mountain Parrot follows the forests of flowering gums throughout 

 Australia, except, perhaps. West. It is also foimd in Tasmania, where 

 its visits, as in other places, are iiTegular. It is a most beautiful 

 species, with green upper surface, rich blue head and abdomen, chest 

 rich scarlet, with blood-red bill and eyes to match. Tlie sexes ai-e 

 almost alike in colouring. Total length, 12 inches. As a flock of these 

 splendid Lorikeets wheel simultaneously in mid-air, the flashing splen- 

 dour of the deep crimson under the surface of the wings, intensified by 

 the light of a slanting sun, is a sight to be remembered. But there axe 

 other sights. During February, 1896, thousands of these grand Lori- 

 keets visited a vineyard about foiu- acres in extent, near Murcliison, 

 on the Goulbum River, feasting for tliree days on grapes. They 

 remained in one vineyard, although others were near. The unduly 

 favoured vigneron was .so exasperated, not only at the depredations 

 committed, but with the terrible din of the multitudes of h;irsh, 

 screeching voices, that in one day he shot no less than seventy bij-ds. 



In 1881 I was indebted to the late Mr. George Barnard for the eggs 

 (those originally described) of the beautiful Blue-bellied Lorikeet, t^aken 

 on his run, Coomooboolaroo, Queensland. He informed me that this 



