^ESTS AND £CCS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 635 



Nest and Eggs. — Undescribed. 



Ohxervufiuni;. — This exceedingly fine Parrakect was named after 

 the distinguished botanist, Robert Brown, but the local name, Smutty 

 Parrot, is at once more characteristic, ou accoimt of some of the bird's 

 feathers being slightly fringed with black. I have handled specimens 

 from the Port Darwin district, where it is reported to be a plentiful 

 sjjccies. 



502. — Platycekcus ekythropeplls, Salvadori. 



RED-BACKED ROSELLA. 



Figure. — Proc. Zool. Soc. (1891), pi. 12. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 550. 



Geographical DUtributinn. — Unknown. 



Nest and Eggs. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — ^According to Count Salvadori, this species is inter- 

 mediate between P. elegans and P. eximiui;. The type was formerly 

 in Gotild's collection, but is now in the Bntish Museum. Unfor- 

 tunately the original label was lost, therefore it is not known where 

 the specimen was obtained. Most probably the bird is a hybrid 

 between the two species mentioned by the Count, as it possesses the 

 blue of the Crimson Pairakeet on the lower part of the cheek, and 

 the white of the Rosella on the upper, besides other combinations 

 observable. 



503. — Platycercus eximius, Shaw. — (422) 

 ROSELLA. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 27. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 551. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1S48) , 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 56 (1865) ; North : Austn. Mus. 

 Cat., p. 25S (rSSg). 



Geographical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. 



Nest. — Within a hollow spouted limb or trunk of a tree, occasion- 

 ally not far from the ground, in forest country. 



