^ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. (j.j 



517. I'SEPHOTUS DISSIMILIS, Collott. 



CHESTNUT-CROWNED PARRAKEET. 



Rejcrcncc. — Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 356 (1S9S). 



Gtographicul Distribution. — Northoiu Territory. 



Nest and Eyys. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — Dr. Dahl first obtained this Parrakeet in 1895, iu 

 the Northom Temtory, where he met it here and there in small flocks, 

 particularly between Pine Creek and Catherine River, but it did not 

 appear common, and was only obsei-ved during the dry season. 

 Professor R. Collett, who described the bird, sta.tes that it comes 

 nearest to the Golden-shouldered PaiTakeet (P. chrysopterygmsj, but 

 lacks the yellow band across the forehead, has a chestnut crown, the 

 lower parts verditer-blue (in the male), and the under tail coverts 

 orange. 



518. — PsEPHoTUS MULTICOLOR, Temminck. — (430) 

 MANY-COLOURED PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 35. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 566. 

 Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Victorian Naturalist 

 (1888) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 261 (1889). 



(reoyraphica/ Distribution. — New South Wales, Victoria, and South, 

 West and Norih-west Austraha. 



Nest.- — Within a hole or hollow trunk of a tree. 



Eyys. — Clutch, foiu' to six ; round in form ; texture of shell 

 fine ; surface glossy ; colour, pure wliite. Dimensions in inches : 

 (1) -gx-TG, (2) •9x-72, (3) -89 x -76, (4) -88 x -75, (5) -86 x -76, 

 (6) -86 X -75. 



Observations. — The Many-coloured Parrakeet, especially the male, 

 is well named, and is fomid in the open forest country of the interior 

 portions of Southern Australia, where in parts it is stated to be 

 plentiful. It was noticed by the Horn Expedition near all water-holes 

 in Central Australia, and by the Calvert Expedition between Cue and 

 Lake Augusta, West Australia, while Mr. T. Carter found the species at 

 the North-west Cape. I have noticed a few pairs in the Wimmera 

 district of Victoria, where they breed. However, the eggs in my col- 

 lection are from Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, where they were 

 collected by Mr, W. Wliite from a nest in a hollow mallee limb. One 

 of the parents was captured on the nest. 



