(522 ^'ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Eggx. — Clutch, four to seven, usually five; oval or elliptirally 

 inclined in shape ; texture of shell fine ; surface glossy ; colour, pure 

 white. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch: (!) 108 x -76, 

 (2) 1-07 X -77, (3) 1-06 x -76, (4) 1-05 x -74, (5) 1-04 x -75. 



OhxcrvationR. — This singular and elegant species has been found 

 throughout the length and breadth of Australia; but it is more addicted 

 to the plains and interior portions, moving about according to the sea-sons, 

 when they sometimes fly in gi-cat flocks. I believe the birds were 

 numerous in Riverina during the winter of 1896. Its little top-knot 

 gives it a sprightly appearance, while tli(^ beauty of the greyish dress, 

 relieved with white on the wings of the male, is enhanced by the lemon- 

 yellow about his face, particularly on the cheeks. In the female the face 

 is not so brightly coloured, being of a dull olive. Total length, about 

 12 inches or 13 inches. 



Gould states that the beautiful Cockatoo Parrot is strictly migi-atory, 

 making simultaneous movements southwards to within 100 miles of the 

 coast in September, an-iving in the York district. Western Australia, 

 precisely at the same time that it appears on the Livei-pool plains in the 

 east, and after rearing a^ numerous progeny the whole retire northward 

 again in February and March. 



During the summer of 1839, Gould foimd these birds breeding in all 

 the apple-tree ( Ajitfophorn } flats on the Upper Hunter and adjacent 

 localities. 



In Central Australia, loth Jiily, 1894, during the progress of the 

 Horn Scientific Expedition, Mr. Keartland states he saw large numbers 

 of young Cockatoo Pan'ots. One old pair was supplying the wants of 

 a brood of six as they clustered on a di-y branch. Mr. Richard J. Dalton, 

 on the Paroo, New South Wales, 1896, obser\'ed that the Parrots were 

 breeding in May, and again from September to November. Nestlings 

 were plentiful on the Fitzroy River (North-west) during January (1897). 

 The late Mr. T. Augustus Forbcs-Lcith, in his pleasant little treatise on 

 " Parrots of Victoinaj" mentions that he knew of several instances of this 

 Parrot breeding in aviaries and rearing yovmg. 



On the habits of birds coming to water, Mr. H. W. Ford, F.G.S., 

 informs me that " the Grey and Yellow Top-knotted Pan'ot ( ' Quarrion,' 

 native name among bushmen) flies round about water-holes for some 

 time, then settles on a tree near the water. Another wotild fly round 

 screeching all the time, and down to the edge of the water, take one gulp 

 and off as if all the hawks in creation were after it, screeching all 

 the time. The same antics apply to the Shell Pa.iTakeet. Both these 

 birds come in by flocks of dozens in the afternoon, and always the same 

 performance at drinking time as far as I have seen, and I have seen them 

 dozens of times." 



