OF VICTORIA. 249 



LITTLE LORIKEET 



(Little Green 'Keet), 



Glossopsittaciis piisilliis, Shaw. 



Glo-sop-sit'a-kus jjiT-sil'tis. 

 Glossa, tongue ; psittakos, a parrot ; jniaillus, very small. 



Trichoglossus pusillus, Gould, *' Birds of Australia," fol., vol. v., 



pi. 54. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 



Key to the Species. — General colour green ; cheeks, forehead, and 

 chin all round the base of bill red. 



This rapid flier is the most diminutive of the Australian 

 parrots. It associates with the Musk Lorikeet in great 

 numbers, and is easily heard in February along the 

 southern coasts. 



It breeds in the north among the secret places of aged 

 timber and comes south with its family to see what can be 

 secured ia the open and to summer. 



Like most of the parrots this tiny species is very fond 

 of the gum trees, and spends much of its time among them. 



Certain of the parrots are grass-loving, and spend nearly 

 all the day gathering seeds upon the ground. Such are 

 the Psephotus (8 species) and Neophema (7 species) in 

 general, with the night parrakeets (Pezoporus and 

 Geopsittacus) in particular. Of these latter there is only 

 one species to each of the two genera. 



Nest. — A cavity in a large tree is used, and the eggs are 

 placed upon the decayed wood. 



£ggs. — Four to a sitting; white. Length, 0'7 inch 

 breadth, 0-6 inch. 



