OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 279 



carried out in tlie hollows of trees. However, I have been 

 told that it is a common occurrence to find nests in rabbit- 

 burrows, and occasionally in the decaying tops of fence posts, 

 owing to trees of a suitable nature being scarce. 



Two short notes on this familiar bird may be interesting. 

 The first is of- a Rosella, aged 21 months, that is able to speak 

 36 phrases, words of exclamation, and sentences of six words 

 Twenty- three of these I was able to write dow^i. It reminds 

 me of Humboldt's story of the kSouth American venerable 

 Parrot, which was the sole possessor of a literally dead 

 language, the w^hole tribe of Indians having become extinct. 



The second note is on a bird which lived for two years 

 without any feathers. My friend who kept this bird in 

 captivity remarked to me that it seemed to be undergoing a 

 severe moult when he got it, and it was still uncompleted 

 when he gave it away two years later. With but a sprinkling 

 of down and no feathers, it waxed strong and grew fat, and, 

 despite the adverse circumstances, it was very active, if not 

 happy. Every bird of this nature should be undergoing 

 medical treatment for skin and blood trouble. The remedy 

 is simple and cheap, and I mention it as a prevention of 

 cruelty to animals, caused by injudicious feeding and improper 

 environment. 



The Rosella is a species distinguished by its broad tail and 

 peculiar beauty. 



Nest. — Hollows of trees are used, and the eggs are placed 

 merely upon the decayed wood. 



Eggs. — Five, six, or seven to a sitting ; white. Length, 

 I inch : breadth, 0.8 inch. 



