634 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest. — Withiu a liolu iu a tree. 



Eggs. — Clutch, four to live ; uearly round or round oval in shape ; 

 textiu-c of shell somewhat fine ; surface glossy ; colour, pui-e wlute. 

 Dixueusious in inches of a proper clutch : (1) 1-Ui x 88, (2^ 1-04 x -89, 

 (3) 1-02 X -87, (4) 1-02 x -84. 



Ohservatiuns. — -The beautiful Pale-headed Parrakeet, or Moretou 

 Bay Rosella, is not so highly coloured and variegated as its more 

 southern representative, P. eximius, yet when seen in the open, with 

 its light-blue plumnge and delicate yellow head, it is a most capti- 

 vating creature. It lives in conlinement remarkably well. Besides 

 Queensland, the northern part of New South Wales is included in 

 its habitat. 



The eggs of the Pale-headed Parrakeet in my collection bear the 

 data, Coomooboolaroo (Queensland), &c., where I had the pleasure of 

 observing the birds in a state of nature, and procuring skins. 



Usual breeding season, September to December, but at Coomoo- 

 boolaroo the birds have been observed laying in March and July, but 

 generally in October. 



500. — Platycercus amathusia, Bonapai-te.— (420) 

 P. cyaiwgenys, Gould. 



BLUE-CHEEKED PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Guuld : Birds of Auslralia, fol., supp., pi. 63. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 548. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern Territory and North Queens- 

 land. 



Nest and Eggs. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — This rare Parrakeet is closely alhed to the Pale- 

 headed Parrakeet (P. pa/h'ceps), but differs, as Gould has pointed out, 

 in the greener tone of the colouring of its body and in the rich blue 

 of the checks, hence the name " Blue-cheeked." It is a northern bird, 

 and the original specimen was procured at Cape York by Macgillivray, 

 October, 1848. 



501. — Platycercus uuowni, Temminck. — (421) 

 P. venustus, Kuhl. 



SMUTTY PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of .Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 31. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 549. 



di'iit/rrijiliir/il Dixtribvlian. — North-west Australia .ind Nui-tiiern 

 Territory. 



