22 



Hii.L, Bird^ of Aram/ District. [,.t'".h'iy 



Cockatoo-Parrakeet (Calopsittacus novce-hollandice). — An occasional 

 summer visitor. 



Crimson Parrakeet (Platycercus elegans).— This species is also 

 numerous here, but I took but one egg during the eight years over 

 which these notes extend. It was remarked that only birds of mature 

 plumage were seen in the mountains, but on the lower country both 

 those of mature and immature plumage were found, though generally 

 not in the same flocks. This peculiarity was also noticed by my 

 brother in the Nagambie district (Goulbum Valley). 



RosELLA (Platycercus eximius). — The commonest and most destruc- 

 tive of the family represented here. 



Many-coloured Parrakeet {Psephotus multicolor). — One small 

 flock was seen in the southern portion of the district in 1904. 



Red-backed Parrakeet {Psephotus hcematonotus). — Plentiful 

 throughout the district at certain times of the year. Though some 

 remain for the nesting, I beheve most of them go further north to 

 breed, and return again a few months later. The topmost hollow 

 branches of tall dead trees are invariably chosen for nesting purposes. 



Bronze-wing (Phaps chalcoptera). — Said to have been extremely 

 plentiful in the early days, but very scarce at the present time, no 

 doubt owing to the destruction of the Acacia, which produced their 

 principal food, and to the laying of poison for the destruction of 

 rabbits. 



Brush Bronze-wing {Phaps elegans). — A bird was flushed from her 

 nest, situated in the hollow trunk of a broken messmate (eucalypt), 

 and one egg taken from it. This was the only specimen I was able to 

 identify. 



Stubble Quail {Coturnix pectoralis). — Not found often here, though 

 numerous south of the district under notice. 



Painted Quail {Turnix varia). — A single specimen only was noted. 



Little Quail {Turnix velox). — Of late years these birds have arrived 

 in large numbers during the summer, and leave again after the nesting. 

 The loud boom made at night by this small species of Quail sounds 

 like the call of a much larger bird, and at some considerable distance 

 away, though the author of it may in reality be perhaps not more than 

 one hundred yards away. 



Pectoral Rail {Hypotcenidia philippinensis). — Seldom seen here, 

 though probably more numerous along the course of the Wimmera 

 River. 



Crane {Antigone australasiana). — Sometimes seen flying overhead in 

 flocks of five or six birds, travelling in a northerly direction. 



Wild Turkey {Eupodotis ausiralis). — A rare summer visitor. 



Stone-Plover {Burhinus grallarius). — Fairly numerous on the 

 timbered rises, but, according to old residents, they are less numerous 

 than formerly, which may be accounted for by the increase in the 

 number of foxes. 



Spur-winged Plover {Lobivanellus lobatus). — This and the following 

 species are sometimes seen on the low-lying country during the nesting 

 season. 



Black-brrasted Plover {Zonifer tricolor). 



