NESTS AND EGGS OP AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. fi^y 



520.— Neophema BouEKEi, Gould (Mitchell). — (438) 

 BOURKE GRASS PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Clould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 43. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 570. 

 Freviotii Dtscriplions of Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Science Record 

 (18S3) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 264 (1SS9). 



Geographical Distribution. — New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. 



Nest. — Within a hole or hollow in a tree. 



Egt/s. — Clutch, four, in some instances probably five ; inclined to 

 oval in shape ; texture of shell fine; surface glossy; colour, pure white. 

 Dimensions in inches about '9 x •?. 



Observations. — The Bovu-ke Parrakeet is a somewhat rare interior 

 species, which I have never seen myself in the open. Of birds kept 

 in captivity it has been ascertained that the male bird assists in the 

 task of incubation, and in all probability this rule applies to the other 

 members of this beautiful genus. 



With the original description of an egg, fiu'nishcd in the 

 " Catalogue " of the Australian Museum, it is stated that the late 

 Mr. K. H. Bennett took a set of these rare Parrakeets' eggs on the 

 20th August, 1884, in the interior of New South Wales. 



Breeding season includes August and probably the three or four 

 following months. 



521. — Neophema venusta, Temmiuck. — (432) 

 Eiipliema chriisnstuma, Gould. 



BLUE-WINGED GRASS PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 37. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 570. 



Previou! Descriptions of Eggs. — *Gould : Birds of Australia (1S48) , 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 72 (1865) ; Campbell : Southern 

 Science Record (1S83) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 262 

 (18S9); Hall: Victorian Naturalist (iSqS). 



Geographical Dixtrihiition. — New South Wales, Victoria, South 

 Australia, Tasmania, King Island, and probably other islands in Bass 

 Strait. 



Nest. — Within a small hole in a tree or in a hollow log or stump. 

 * No dimensions given. 



