132 Campbell, The Rosella Parrot (Platycercus eximius). [i<if'"oct. 



I knew of another bird which Hved for 23 years, while I learn 

 from Mr. C. C. Brittlebank that a fine male he took as a nestling 

 at Myrniong seventeen years ago died recently. 



What led to this paper was a suggestion of Mr. H. L. White to 

 look into a series of 13 skins (5 S and 8 ?) of splendidns from 

 Warialda, northern part of New South Wales, taken during the 

 months from May to August. All specimens show more or less 

 the white-barred wings (of immaturity). The singular part is 

 that Mr. White has been informed by our member, Mr. S. A. 

 Hanscombe, that the Rosellas in the neighbourhood of Warialda 

 always appear in this dull or immature plumage. Possibly the 

 birds move elsewhere to mature and breed, or else some remain 

 in the locality and breed in immature plumage. 



Since the foregoing was written Mr. Hanscombe has kindly 

 sent the following field observations from Warialda : — 



■" For the last two years I have interested myself in the local 

 Red-headed Rosellas. I did this chiefly at the request of Mr. H. L. 

 White, of Belltrees. 



" During March, April, and May, and thence till November, great 

 flocks of Pale or White-headed (P. pallidiceps) and Red-headed 

 (P. splendidus) Rosellas can be located in the open forest and plain 

 country. During November the Red-headed, generally speaking, 

 disappears, presumably to New England, to breed, the White-headed 

 breeding locally. After much inquiry I cannot find one local 

 individual who has ever found locally a nest of the Red-headed birds. 

 Nevertheless, I am not prepared to state that all these birds do go 

 to New England to breed, but the great majority of them go some- 

 where else to breed. 



" This year (1918) a few birds remained the whole year ; but as this 

 is by no means a normal year, through severe drought conditions, 

 deductions arrived at may prove misleading. 



" My observations led me to believe that the local Red-headed 

 birds were of two distinct sub-species. In 191 7 I concluded this 

 from the very pronounced difference in the plumage. The great 

 majority, however, did have the full and brilliant plumage, the 

 duller-plumaged birds being in the great minority, and hence I 

 closely watched the following year. 



" I did arrive at the conclusion, probably erroneously, that the 

 gaudy-plumaged birds were crossbred originally from the Red-headed 

 and White-headed birds, adhering to the instincts re breeding of the 

 former parent. 



" At time of writing I am in close touch with bushmen constantly 

 on the watch for any young Red-headed bird, as I told you in the 

 beginning that a few did this season remain." 



Note. — Although Mr. Hanscombe terms P. pallidiceps " White- 

 headed " birds, that is merely in contrast to the " Red-headed " 

 Rosellas, because the " White-headed " birds are really " Yellow- 

 headed," and, although some of the skins examined do show small 

 dashes of red here and there (signs of immaturity, no doubt), 

 they are evidently not " crossbreds " of the two species 

 mentioned. — A. J. C. 



