THE UNDULATED GRASS PAREAKEET. 249 



narrow towards the front, becoming broad towards the back, 

 and forming a transverse band right across the wing) ; the 

 secondaries are green on the outer web, finely edged with 

 yellow, yellow at the base and in the centre (so that the 

 outspread wing shows on the upper side a yellowish-green, and, 

 on the reverse side, a yellowish- white transverse band) ; all 

 the quills are a dark ashen-grey on the reverse side ; the last 

 quill feathers and their coverts, as well as the longest of the 

 capillars, are brownish-black, with yellow tips ; the two central 

 and longest tail feathers dark-blue; the rest are more of a 

 greenish-blue, with a broad yellow central spot across both 

 webs, and a broad black edge at the base of the inner webs (the 

 tail has, on the outer and inner webs, two broad blackish-green 

 bands running crosswise, and a similar acute-angled band of 

 sulphur-yellow) ; all the under parts of the body, from the 

 base of the beak, a yellowish grass-green ; the beak greenish 

 horn-grey ; the cere dark-blue, more or less glazed ; the eyes 

 pearly white, sometimes pale yellow, with large black iris ; 

 broad bluish circle round the eye ; the feet bluish horn- 

 coloured, those bred at home white ; claws blackish. The 

 female is similarly marked, only the blue spots on the 

 cheeks and beard are a little smaller ; but the chief mark of 

 distinction is that the cere is greenish, yellowish, or brownish- 

 grey. The plumage of the young bird is similar to the above 

 on the forehead, crown of the head, and sides of the breast, but 

 marked with pale dark transverse lines, the whole colouring 

 paler, the green and yellow duller; the beak, at the time of 

 leaving the nest, black (growing, after the second week, gradually 

 a lighter green-grey) ; the cere flesh-coloured or bluish-white. 

 Length, 8^in. to lO^in. ; width of outspread wings, lO^in. ; 

 wings, 3-Jin. to 3|in. ; central tail feathers, 3|in. to 3Jin. ; 

 outermost tail feathers, l^in. 



It is said to be a native of all parts of Australia, and not 

 only is it found throughout an extensive range, but it is in some 

 places very numerous. Its habits doubtless agree with those of 

 the Platycerci, described on page 237. Gould especially draws 

 attention to the regularity of these birds in all their movements. 

 The flocks fly away at a certain time in the morning to seek for 

 food, return home in the same way, and hurry off, morning and 

 evening, to the drinking places. In the heat of the day they sit 

 motionless in the thick tops of the trees. During the breeding 

 season they live gregariously in the hollows of the gum-trees. 



