82 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



position is as conspicuous in confinement as in its native 

 wilds. 



In all probability it is generally dispersed over the central 

 parts of Australia ; in the whole of the southern portion it is 

 migratory, appearing in large flocks in spring, when the grass- 

 seeds are plentiful, and retiring again after the breeding- 

 season is over to more northern latitudes. 



On arriving at Brezi, to the north of the Liverpool Plains, 

 in the beginning of December, I found myself surrounded by 

 numbers, breeding in all the hollow spouts of the large Euca- 

 lypti bordering the Mokai ; and on crossing the plains between 

 that river and the Peel, in the du'ection of the Turi Mountain, 

 I saw them in flocks of thousands. Their flight is remarkably 

 straight and rapid, and is generally accompanied by a screech- 

 ing noise. Diu-ing the heat of the day, when flocks of them 

 are sitting motionless among the leaves of the gum-trees, 

 they are with difficulty detected. 



The breeding-season is at its height in December, and by 

 the end of the month the young are generally capable of pro- 

 viding for themselves. The eggs are three or four in number, 

 pure white, nine lines long by seven lines in diameter, and are 

 deposited in the holes and spouts of the gum-trees without 

 any nests. 



As cage-birds they are as interesting as can possibly be 

 imagined ; for, independently of their highly ornamental ap- 

 pearance, they are constantly coquetting, squabbling, and 

 assuming every variety of graceful position. Their inward 

 song, which cannot well be described, is unceasingly warbled 

 forth from morn to eve, and is even continued throughout 

 the night if they are placed in a room where an animated 

 conversation is carried on ; indeed I am unacquainted with 

 any Australian species which has been brought to England, 

 that has contributed so much to the pleasure of those who 

 keep living birds. I believe I was one of the first who intro- 

 duced living examples to this country, having succeeded in 



