^'"'n^/^'] Cole, No(es upon the Fond of the Yellmv Parrol. 12^ 



Notes upon the Food of the Yellow Parrot (Platy^ 

 cercus flaveolus). 



Bv C. F. Com:, R.A.O.T., \Van(;aratta (Vic.) 



This rather rare specit's is to hi' found i^hal)itinJ.,^ duriiif,' the 

 whole year, tlic swampy areas along the Murray River, par- 

 ticularly from lu'huca to Albury, and along the valleys of its 

 tributaries on the Victorian side from i6 to 30 miles from the 

 mother stream. At times odd birds are to be met with higher 

 up, where the streams wend their course through valleys bordered 

 upon either side by mountains ; but they prefer the low-lying 

 country subject to inundations and timbered with box and 

 red gum eucalypt trees. Along the Ovens Valley, from Lower 

 Everton to the Murray River, this bird may be termed rather 

 common, a hollow spout in a tree growing in a swamp being a 

 chosen site for its nesting-place. 



Like the Rosella [P. eximiiis) and the Crimson Parrot (P. 

 liegans), they arc very fond of fruit, particularly apples and pears. 



This species is easilv approached, and lacks tlie timidness of 

 the Rosella. 



During the early summer months these birds search beneath 

 the loose bark and in fissures upon the bole and main arms of the 

 eucalypt trees for the cocoon of the cup moth, probably the 

 painted species [Limacodes longerans). Breaking open the cocoon 

 with their biU, the birds extract the pupating larva ; generally 

 a portion of the cocoon remains attached to the tree or bark. 



My first experience of this species eating the pupating larva 

 of this moth was during November, 1915, whilst fishing in the 

 Murray River at Barnawartha, Victoria. Noticing several of 

 the birds clinging to the bole and loose bark of a giant red gum 

 tree beneath which I sat, and making a noise similar to cracking 

 some hard seed, I shot a bird, and found upon examination that 

 the crop contained the larvae of the cup motli, much sought after 

 by anglers for bait, the larva at this stage being yt'How in colour, 

 soft, and about to turn into its pupa form. 



In the autumn Yellow Parrots are very fond of the ripening 

 seeds of the water pepper plant {Polygonum hydropiper). It is 

 a common sight to see from ten to a dozen of the birds clinging 

 in a pendent position whilst securing the seed from the drooping 

 seed-branches of this plant, which grows profusely upon land 

 subject to floodings in the Wangaratta district. 



Like the Crimson Parrot, this species is fond of ripening maize 

 and broom corn seed. 



The fully matured male is a handsome bird, and takes three 

 years to get fully plumed and the rose-tinted feathers iipon the 

 fore-neck to become highly tinted. 



The young, when secured from the nest, are easily taught to 

 whistle. 



9 



