6t;4 A'ESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



525. — Neophema pulchella, Shaw. — (436) 

 RED-SHOULDERED GRASS PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 41. 



Rejerence. — Cat. Birds Brit. -Mus., vol. xx., p. 575. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Science Record 

 (1S83); North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 263 (1889). 



GeograyUical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, and South Australia. 



Xest. — Within a hole in a tree or in a hollow log. 



Eggs. — Clutch, four to five usually, eight maximum ; round oval 

 in shape ; texture of shell somewhat fine ; surface glossy ; colour, pure 

 white. Dimensions in inches of a pair taken in Gippsland : (1) -OS x '75, 

 (2) "92 X "75 ; of a clutch (according to the Australian Museum 

 " Catalogue ") : (1) -88 x -72, (2) -85 x -7, (3) -8 x -71, (4) -8 x -7. 



Ohaervatinns. — This exquisite species is found in the more thickly 

 timbered tracts of South-eastern Australia. The late Mr. T. A. 

 Forbes-Lcith stated this lovely Grass PaiTakcet wanders to Gippslajid 

 in spring, when it is gcnerall}- seen in pairs, or perhaps three or four 

 together. I think it was this species we used to flush from the rich 

 alluvial flats at the foot-hills of the Dandenongs. 



Mr. Percy Ramsay, long since — August, 1859 — took at Macquarie 

 Fields, New South Wales, a set of these rare Grass Parrakeets' eggs, 

 which, however, remained undcscribed for thirtj' years, till the 

 " Catalogue " of the Australian Museum appeared in 1889. 



The eggs in my collection, taken at Berwick, Victoria, are larger 

 in the dimensions than the Macquarie Fields' set, and were iden- 

 tified by the wing of the bird shot by the same person who took the 

 eggs. However, the finding of another authenticated clutch of these 

 scarce eggs will be welcomed with interest. 



Breeding season, August to December. 



526. — NnopirEMA splendida, Gould.- -(437) 

 SCARLET-CHESTED GRASS PARRAKEET. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Auslrrilia, fol., vol. v., pi. 42. 

 Reference.— Cm. Birds Brit. Mns., vol. xx., p. 157(1. 



ncntirnphirnl Distrilnlian . — New South Wales, Vic(ori:i, South 

 and West Australia. 



NeM iinij Eiiiis. — Sec Appendix. 



