5g6 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



I have observed many nests of the Musk Lorikeet in Victoria, but 

 the only one I could reach was in a dead (rung) cucalvpt, near the 

 Gunyah Creek, Bendigo district. It contained a pair of eggs in an 

 advanced stage of incubation. Date, 4th October, 1880. 



Mr. Brent informs me the complement to a clutch of the Musk 

 Lorikeet in Tasmania is usually fom- eggs. 



These Lorikeets have also cultivated a taste for fniit. During the 

 .summer (February and March) of 1889, the Muskies were vei-y trouble- 

 some in the apple orchards of South Brighton. In April, after their 

 depredations. I obsei-ved flocks of these birds heading in a north- 

 easterly direction. 



Breeding months September to December. 



468. — Glossopsittacus porphyrocephalus, Dietrichsen. — (449) 

 PURPLE-CROWNED LORIKEET. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 53. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 70. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Campbell : Victorian Naturalist (1S93). 



Geo(/rfij)liiraI Dixtrihutinn. — New South Wales, Victoria, South and 

 West Australia. 



Next. — Within a hollow spout or hole of a tree. 



Egga. — Clutch, fovu- ; roundish or round oval in form ; texture of 

 shell fine; surface withovit gloss; colour, white, more or less dulled by 

 the wood dust of the nest. Dimensions in inches of two proper clutches : 

 A (1) •84x-66, (2) ■84X-66, (3) -8 x -7 ; B (1) -8 x -66, (2) -79 x -68, 

 (3) -76 X -65, (4) -77 x -65. 



Observations!. — Tliis exquisite little Lorikeet is an especial favourite 

 of mine. Its particular range of habitat is across the southern parts 

 of Australia, from east to west. 



The Piu'plc-crowned Lorikeet is rarely seen in the vicinity of Mel- 

 bourne, bvit, in 1897, small flocks were obsei-ved flying over the city. 

 Several specimens were shot for collections, notabl}' at liie Zoological 

 Gardens, and the Horticultural Gardens, Burnley ; also at Somcrvillc, 

 Western Port, where the birds were seen for the first time. 



Once, when on the P. & 0. mail boat, steaming across S))ciiccr 

 Gulf (Soutli Australia), I was agreeably astonished to sec one of these 

 little Lorikeets flutter on board and lodge on the hurricane deck, where 

 I easily secured it. On holding it up to tlic admiring passengers, the 

 little bird pi-otestcd by digging its hard bill into my thiunb. Throwing 

 the bird into the air, it uttered its characteristic, harsh screecii, gave 

 its body a quiver, and headed straight for the land. 



