644 IVESTS AXD EGGS OF AV ST KALI AN BIRDS. 



Observofions. — The Yellow-vented Parrakoet, or the " Blue 

 Bonnet " of the bird-catchers, is chiefly found in the interior portions 

 of New South Wales and Victoria, notably on the plains of the Murray 

 and Riverina, where it retires to the belts of timber to breed. It is 

 also found in South and Western Australia. It is a graceful 

 bird, about 12 inches or 13 inches in length ; general colour olive-brown, 

 relieved with a face of ultramarine blue, and a crimson patch down the 

 abdomen, the rest of tlic imder surface being yellowish. When flying 

 through tlie belts of timber in pairs or small flocks, their voices are 

 harsh, and grate upon one's ears. 



I first received eggs from Mr. G. H. Morton, Benjcroop, 1883, and 

 the following season I myself found the .species nesting in the belts of 

 timber near Pyramid Hill, where, on the 8th October, seven young 

 ones about three or four weeks old were taken from a nest. 



Apparently these Parrakeets arc not always easily flushed from 

 their nests. Mr. Morton tells me he has taken eggs from under the 

 sitting birds. 



The set of seven eggs, collected by Mr. J. Hill, Kewell, Victoria, 

 taken on the 15th September, 1887, and described by Mr. North, 

 verifies the descriptions of the eggs of this species previously published 

 by Dr. T. P. Lucas and myself, although we all mistook the bird for the 

 Red-vented instead of the Yellow-vented Parrakeet. 



Bird-trappers say there are two races of " Blue Bonnets " which 

 sometimes breed in the same locality. Perhaps the other bird is 

 referable to the siicceeding variety, the Red-vented Pan-akect 

 (P. hcemafnrrhnus). 



Breeding months, end of August or beginning of September to 

 December. 



On the habits of birds coming to water, Mr. H. W. Ford no doubt 

 refers to the Yellow-vented Pan-akeet when he writes : — " There is a 

 small Parrakeet, of a smoky-grey, with a pink spot on the breast, that 

 only goes to water after daik and before daylight. When camped, we 

 often heard them going over us both evening and morning. This 

 habit is often fatal to the birds, or some of them, when wire fences are 

 near the water. I have got the birds with head cut right off against 

 the wires. It is a peculiar habit, always going to water in the night, 

 and, like the antics of the Quamons (Cockatoo Parrots) and Shell 

 Parrakeets, is to escape their enemies, I suppose. For near water in 

 drought time all sorts of Hawks, cats, iguanas, and other caniivora 

 loiter, as an easy place to get food. 



514. PSEPHOTUS HiEMATORRHOrs, Gould. (426) 



RED-VENTED PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of .•Vustralia, £ol., vol. v., pi. 33. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 561. 



Gengraphirol Di.<<frihiitinn. — South Queensland and New South 

 Wales. 



