Vol. XXVII. 

 1910 



"I Leach, The Birds of Victoviaz 151 



parrots, to find that European ornithologists had called one 

 " splendidiis/' another " splendida," two more " elegaiis,"' 

 another " pulchella " (beautiful), another '' eximiits " (excel- 

 lent), and still another was named by Gould " piilcherrimus " 

 (most beautiful). Why these extravagant names ? When one 

 considers that there is no parrot in Europe, that a parrot is 

 not mentioned in the Bible, that no parrot was known to the 

 Egyptians, that parrots are unknown in Asia except India and 

 the south-east, that but two were known in North America, and 

 that one is extinct except in Florida, and that parrots are rare 

 in Africa, then one can see the great good fortune of Australia 

 in having so many of these beautiful pets of the animal world, 

 for they are universal favourites, and almost every steamer that 

 lea\'es our shores takes away numbers of these lovely birds. 

 Victoria has no less than 33 parrots and cockatoos ; so appre- 

 ciate your privileges and preserve these lovely birds for your 

 children's children to enjoy. 



Cockatoos are found only in the Australian region, except one 

 kind that has spread out to the Philippine Islands. 



Outside Victoria the Rosella is esteemed one of the most 

 beautiful of birds. These birds have been termed the 

 " monkeys of the bird world." 



In order eighteen — Coraciiformes — we are fortunate, for we 

 have representatives of six families. 



The Frogmouth — wrongly called the '' Mopoke," though 

 some claim that it does make a call similar to that made by 

 the Boobook Owl — is of great value as an insect destroyer. It 

 stiffens itself, closes its eyes, and so mimics a broken stump 

 that it is almost impossible to pick it out, even when a man 

 is looking at it. The Dollar-bird is our one representative of 

 an old-world family. It has the usual rolling flight, and shows 

 a white dollar on its expanded wing. Its beauty causes it to 

 be a favourite for ladies' hats. Kingfishers are well known, and 

 Australia has more than its share of these lovely birds. In 

 addition, its Giant Kingfisher (Laughing Jackass) is one of the 

 most famous of birds. Its jolly laugh adds something to life 

 on a dismal grey day. The glorious Bee-eater is our ojie repre- 

 sentative of a widely-spread family. A writer has well said 

 there is " none so graceful and few so beautiful." It is a glory, 

 and yet one lady appeared at a Melbourne Cup with twelve of 

 these birds in her hat ! She thus effectually drew attention 

 away from herself. 



Swifts are also famous birds. The other evening I saw some 

 rushing overhead. They seem to hurl themselves through the 

 air, so we can well believe, with Gould, that " they may be 

 hawking for insects over Victoria one hour and over Tasmania 

 the next." They visit Japan to breed. The " edible swallow's 



