650 



A'ESrS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



E(j(js. — Clutch, iivt; Lo seven ; rouudish uval 111 shape ; texture of 

 sliell somewhat fine; surface glossy; colour, pure white. Dimensions 

 in inches of selected examples; (1) -91 x 73, (2) -9 x 74, (3) -89 x -72, 

 (4) -86 x -7. 



Obse.rvatiuiis. — We arc now dealing with a delightful genus, the 

 species of wluch, for grace, elegance, and delicate eoluuruig, may be 

 considered the most beautiful of little Panots. 



The species under notice is a dweller of the thinly-timbered localities 

 where much grass grows, in the south-eastern corner of Austi-alia, 

 including Tasmania and some of the islands in Bass Strait, not;ibly 

 Flinders. Gould says it is merely a summer visitant to Tasmania. 

 Mr. Robert Hall states it has been observed to arrive in pai-ts of 

 southern Victoria about the niiddle of September, departing again 

 (presumably north) during March or Apiil. 



In the "Victorian Naturalist' (1898) there appears a most valu- 

 able contribution to the life liistoi-y of the Blue-winged Grass PaiTakeet, 

 by Mr. Hall, from the careful observations of his correspondent, 

 Mr. Graham, who states : — " This Parrakeet is very regular in timing 

 its visit, from 14th to 21st September, Its hrst concern upon arrival is 

 to find a suitable stump for nesting, Uic kind preferred being that about 

 one foot in diameter ;md ten to twenty-two feet high, pcrpeuchcular, 

 and two feet to three feet of the top part hollow. This season (1897) 

 I watched the operations of two pairs, and, as their times of action 

 were identical, a description of one will suffice , — On 28th September, 

 bird No. 1 commenced preparing liole by throwing overboard every 

 particle of charcoal and chaiTcd wood from bottom and sides of hole. 

 After the coarser matter was removed, the fine, dry decayed matter 

 was carefully scraped from evei-y hole and crevice around the inside 

 and allowed to fall to the bottom of hole. This work continued imtil 

 22nd October. I visited it each day and always found a bird at work, 

 but whether male or female, as you ask, I cannot say — perhaps both, 

 and it is a question for future research. From 22nd to 28th October 

 one bird sat continually, and I got alanned lest the eggs should be 

 laid during this period, for although I visited it often five times during 

 each day, and remained watching till after dark, during these six days 

 I did not find the bird from the nest. However, on the 28th, the 

 bird had fiown and left one egg. A second was laid on 30th October, 

 and from then until 19th November I had no ojiportunity of seeing 

 what was taking place beneath the sitter, as it could not be persuaded 

 to leave the nest; rough measures would not do. On this 19th day 

 broken egg-shells pointed to full incubation of one or more eggs. On 

 21st and 23rd November more shells, with bird still keeping close on 

 nest. On 24th November appeared five young birds, with a yellowish 

 downy appearance, and old birds keeping close on nest till 27th 

 November, after wiiich t wo voung Ijirds opened their eyes on 1st Decem- 

 ber. On 4th December (wo young birds appeared, coveri'd with gre)-, 

 yellowish about iiead and tail feathers, the latter being one inch long. 

 By loth December two had developed green over body and wings, 

 with a little grey atill remaining about the head. The remaining three, 



