INSESSORES. 21 



belongs, its great wings and expansive tail being unequalled in 

 size by those of any other member of the great family oiPsitfa- 

 cidcB yet discovered. The true habitat of the Calyptqrhynckm 

 funereus is New South Wales, or that portion of the Australian 

 continent forming its south-eastern division. Among other 

 places, I observed it in the neighbourhood of Sydney, at 

 Bong-bong, on Mosquito Island, near the mouth of the river 

 Hunter, and on the Liverpool range ; and it may be said to 

 be universally distributed over this part of the continent. 

 The thick brushes clothing the mountain sides and bordering 

 the coast-line, the trees of the plains, and the more open 

 country are equally frequented by it ; at the same time it is 

 nowhere very numerous, but is usually met with associated 

 in small companies of from four to eight in number, except 

 during the breeding-season, when it is only to be seen in 

 pairs. Its food is much varied ; sometimes the great belts of 

 Banksias are visited, and the seed-covers torn open for the 

 sake of their contents ; while at others it searches with avidity 

 for the larvae of the large caterpillars which are deposited in 

 the wattles and gums. Its flight, as might be expected, is 

 very heavy, flapping, and laboured, but it sometimes dives 

 about between the trees in a most rapid and extraordinary 

 manner. 



When busily engaged in scooping off the bark in search of 

 its insect food, it may be approached very closely ; and if one 

 be shot, the remainder of the company will fly round for a 

 short distance and perch on the neighbouring trees, until the 

 whole are brought down, if you are desirous of so doing. 



Its note is very singular — a kind of whining call, which it 

 is impossible to describe, but which somewhat resembles the 

 syllables Wij-la, whence the native name. 



The eggs, which are white and two in number, about one 

 inch and five-eighths long by one inch and three-eighths 

 broad, are deposited on the rotten wood in the hollow branch 

 of a large gum. 



