176



Dr. E. Hopkinson,



With Woodpeckers and others starving, and no doubt dying,

it was curious to see a pair of Australian Crested Doves, which, of

course, were fed, go through that bitter weather unscathed. They

are practically wild birds, having been loose for three years.


The Blackbirds besieged one every time one appeared with

food for them. Wagtails must have suffered.


Most winters the ploughmen are at work in February, which

enables many birds to obtain insect food, but this year the land was

frost-bound.


I suppose that fruit-growers will rejoice at the decimation in

the birds’ ranks.


Will they continue to do so when they find an increase in

insects, though no doubt the latter have been also largely destroyed.


Golden-crested Wrens ! What has happened to 'them 7^ Surely

they have met with the same fate as the Long-tailed Titmice!


The whole creation seems to have groaned and travailed in pain !


[Note. —Mr. Galloway has sent an article on Long-tailed Titmice, which was unfor¬

tunately too late for publication; it will, we hope, appear [in the May

magazine.—E d.]



REFERENCE LIST OF COLOURED PLATES

OF THE PARROTS.


By Dr. E. Hopkinson.


(Continued from p. 156).


Neophema bourkei, Bodrke’s Parrakeet.


Gould, B. Aust., v, pi. 43.


Cass., 436, pi., p. 439.


Buss, iii, 93, pi.


Av. Mag. (1905), pi., p. 239.


N. venusta, Blue-banded Grass-Parrakeet.


Gould, B. Aust., v, pi. 37.


N.L., xviii, 199, pi. 27.


N. elegans, Elegant Grass-Parrakeet.


Gould, B. Aust., v, pi. 38.


N. chrysogaster, Orange-bellied Grass-Parrakeet.


Gould, B. Aust., v, pi. 39.


N. petrophila, Rock Grass-Parrakeet,


Qould, B. Aust., v, pi. 4Q.



