70 CEENEBY §' MORGAN— Birds of Rivers Hurray ^ Darling. 



Polytelis anthopeplus (Black-tailed Parrot or Rock Feb- 

 bier) . — Found in limited numbers along the Darling as far up 

 as Pooncarie, but is not found near the Wentworth end of the 

 river. It is a fairly common bird lower down the Murray. It 

 is a shy bird, except when near the nesting hole, which is 

 always in a tall river gum. They go a long way back into the 

 mallee to feed. 



Platycercus flaveolus (Yellow Parrot). — A common bird 

 along the river frontages. It never goes far from the river 

 gums. 



Barnardius barnardi (Mallee Parrot). — The commonest 

 parrot in the district. It is met with both along the river 

 frontages and in the mallee. 



Psephotus haematonotus (Red-backed Parrot). — A very 

 common and tame species found along the river banks and in 

 box country. It does not go far back from permanent waters. 



Northiella hacuiatogaster xanthnrrhoa (Yellow-vented Par- 

 rot). — Plentiful in the mallee and sandalwood country, but 

 does not come in to the river gums. A specimen collected at 

 Lake Victoria has red under tail coverts, while others collected 

 from the same flock had them yellow. 



Psephotus varius (Many-coloured Parrot).— Fairly com- 

 mon in black oak [Casuarina sp.), where it nests. It is never 

 seen along the river frontages. 



Melopsittacus undiilatus (Shell Parrot).— A migratory 

 species. Ifcomes clown from northern districts in September 

 in numbers, depending on the season. In 1919 very few 

 appeared, while in 1917, they were present in hundreds of 

 thousands. 



Podargiis strigoides (Tawny Frogmouth) .— A fairly com- 

 mon bird in the mallee and box country. 



Acgotheles cristata (Owlet Nightjar).— A common bird in 

 the mallee and box country, where it nests in the hollow 

 spouts. 



Dacelo gigas (Great Brown Kingfisher or Laughing Jack- 

 ass). — Very common along. the river frontage, but becomes 

 rarer as one leaves the gum country. They are destructive to 

 both the young and eggs of other species. The smaller birds 

 treat them as natural enemies. 



Cjianahnion pjjrrhopjjgins (Red-backed Kingfisher). — A mi- 

 gratory species, arriving early in October. , It keeps mostly 

 to the open country, where it breeds in any suitable bank. 



