A/ESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTKAUAN BIRDS. 53 1; 



Continent. Mr. Keartlaiul states* : " On tlio ilying trip made by 

 Messre. L. A. Wells and G. L. Jones, during August, they found numbers 

 of these birds about one hundred miles nortJi-east of Moiuit Bates, and 

 on several subsequent occa.sions, but when wo traversed the same track 

 about five weeks later I only saw them twice, and succeeded in shooting 

 one pair. Again, in April a pair was seen witliin two miles of Johanna 

 Springs, and several days later a flock of about twenty was noted in the 

 same neighbourhood. They appear to be confined to the most di-eary 

 desert country, and must either travel long distances to water or require 

 very little of it. In the stomachs of those opened, the seed of the 

 Triixlia predominated. When noted they were disturbed whilst feeding 

 amongst the Spinifet, and usually perched on the nearest tree, in-espec- 

 tive of species. Mr. Wells has since reported seeing several witliin a 

 few miles of the Fitzroy River." 



490. — PoLYTELis MEL.\NrRA, Vigors. — (408) 



BLACK-TAILED PARRAKEET (ROCK PEBBLER) 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. i6. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 479. 



Previous Description of Eri^s. — Campbell : Victorian Naturalist (1888J. 



Geographical Distrihufion. — New South Wales, Victoria, South and 

 West Australia. 



Nest. — Within a hole or hollow of a tree, iisually bordering a stream 

 in the interior, or in the crevice of a cliff, notably on the Lower Murray 

 River. 



Eiigs. — Clutch, foiu- to six ; roundish in shape ; texture of shell com- 

 jiaratively fine ; svu-face glossy in some instances, with limy nodules ; 

 colour, pure wliite. Dimensions in inches of proper clutches : 

 A (1) 1-26 X -9, (2) 1-24 X -98, (3) 1-2 x -98, (4) 1-19 x -96; B (1) 

 1-17 X -91, (2) 1-16 X -91, (3) 1-12 x -91, (4) Ml x -95, (5) 1-07 x -91. 



Ohservations. — The habitat of the very elegant Black-tailed PaiTakeet 

 is from east to west across the southern part of Australia, frtqvienting 

 flats in the vicinity of permanent water. It is not a common species, 

 and usually is seen in the interior provinces, where it may be found 

 sometimes breeding in company with other PaiTots in hollow trees over- 

 hanging the Wimmera and Avoca Rivers, and such Uke places. 



On th? Wimmera, north of Lake Albacutya, Dr. Chas. Ryan and 

 parLy found the beautiful Black-tailed PaiTakeets breeding about the 

 first week of October^ 1898, when all the clutches were almost incubated. 

 One n:st contained a pair of young and foiu" addled eggs. 



*Trans. Rov. Soc, South .\ustralia, vol. xxii.. part ii., pp. 130-1 (iSqS). 



40 



