NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTTiALIAN BINDS. 637 



manner. Below was a black snake, glinting in the sunlight, looking 

 straight at the bird. The Parrot came nearer and nearer, and finally 

 fell paralysed or dead beside the snake. The farmer then, waiting 

 till the snake had not eaten, but simply got "outside" of the bird 

 killed the snake, took the bird out, and examined it. 



The following is another snake and Parrot story. Mr. Robert 

 H. Adams, Goondi\vindi, Queensland, writes : " In ' The Australasian ' 

 of the 30th July, 1898, you nan-ated an instance of a Panot being 

 fascinated by a snake. I heard of an almost similar case. 

 Mr. Kimmorlev, Winton station, and a friend were standing near the 

 house, when their attention was drawn to the cries of a Pan-ot circhng 

 round the top of a gum-tree. On looking more carefully they dis- 

 covered the head and neck of a snake projecting from the boughs, and 

 after a while the Pan-ot fluttered right down to the snake's mouth. 

 Mr. Kimmorley got a gim and shot the snake." 



One nest found at Myniiong, Victoria, was in a hollow spout, so 

 low that standing on the gi'ound I could see the eggs resting down in 

 the semi-darkness. Clutch, five. 11th November, 1890. 



Breeding months in general October to December, or when the 

 grass seeds ripen. Numerous young ones may be seen hawked about 

 the streets of Melbourne about tlic end of Novmber and during 

 December. 



To persons selecting fledgeling Rosollas from the nest, or purchasers 

 of young " Joeys " from street hawkers, it may be useful to know 

 that the male is yellowish on the flanks, while the same parts on the 

 female are more greenish in colour. 



504. — Platycercus splendidtts, Gould. — (423) 

 YELLOW-MANTLED PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Gould ; Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 28. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 553. 



Geographical Dixtrihution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 and interior of South Australia (probably). 



Neat and Egg.^. — Undescribed. 



Ohservationa. — This really " Splendid " Parrakeet was one of the 

 first novelties procured by Gilbert after the Expedition (Leichhardt's) 

 left Brisbane, 1844. It resembles the common Rosella, but amongst 

 other differences has the feathers of the back broadly marked with 

 rich gamboge instead of greenish-yellow, hence the better vernacular 

 name. Yellow-mantled Rosella or Parrakeet. 



Unless it be a hybrid, I fear Dr. Ramsay's P. maxteraianvs will 

 have to be placed as a variety of the sphmdid Yellow-mantled 

 Parrakeet 



