38 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



when seen among the silvery branches of the Acacia, particu- 

 larly when the flocks comprise a large number of adult males, 

 the gorgeous scarlet of whose shoulders offers so striking a con- 

 trast to the surrounding objects. It is rather thinly dispersed 

 among the trees skirting the rivers which intersect the Liver- 

 pool Plains, but from these towards the interior it increases 

 in number. Being naturally shy and wary, it is much more 

 difficult of approach than the generality of the Parrakeets : and 

 it seldom becomes tame or familiar in captivity. 



Its flight is performed with a motion of the wings totally 

 different from that of any other member of the great family 

 of Psittacidce I have seen, and has frequently reminded me 

 of the heavy flapping manner of the Pewit, except that the 

 motion was even slower and more laboured. While on the 

 wing, it frequently utters a loud screeching cry. 



Its food consists of berries, the fruit of a species of Loran- 

 thus, and the pollen of flowers, to which is added a species of 

 scaly bug-like insect, that infests the branches of its favourite 

 trees ; and in all probability small caterpillars, for I have found 

 them in the crops of several of the Platycerci. It breeds in the 

 holes of the large Eucalypti growing on the banks of rivers ; 

 the eggs, which are white, being four or five in number, about 

 an inch and an eighth long by seven-eighths broad. 



The sexes differ very considerably in the colouring of their 

 plumage ; and the young males during the first two years 

 resemble the female. 



The male has the head and back of the neck verditer 

 green ; throat, all the upper surface, edge of the shoulder, 

 and upper tail-coverts bright yellowish green ; back black ; 

 rump lazuline blue ; wing-coverts deep rich crimson-red ; 

 scapularies dark green, tipped with black ; primaries black at 

 the base, with the external webs and the apical portion of the 

 inner webs deep green ; secondaries black, edged with deep 

 green, and one or two with a tinge of red at the tip ; tail 

 green above, passing into yellow at the tip, the extreme end 



