250 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



ROSELLA, 



Platycerciis eximius, Shaw. 



Plat-i-ser' kits eg-zi7n'i-us. 

 Flatus, broad ; Jcerkos, tail ; eximius, excellent. 



Platycercus eximius, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. v., 



pi. 27. 



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



Key to the Species. — Cheeks white; head red ; feathers of back 

 edged yellow and green, and having a scale-like appearance ; 

 upper tail coverts green. 



This species is almost too well known to need description. 

 It is quite numerous at times, and very destructive among 

 large fruit, as apples and pears. The trouble commences 

 soon after the young begin to forage, and continues through 

 the summer, or as long as any fruit remains upon the trees 

 or ground. The hotter the day the more persistent the 

 invaders, as if more moisture was necessary for them. 

 During the winter and spring it gathers a living in the 

 fields. The young birds appear in our markets as early as 

 the middle of November. The old birds may use the same 

 liollow for three consecutive seasons, but I do not recognize 

 the same pair, even though it be the same. The nesting of 

 this species is usually carried out in hollows of trees. 

 However, near Mount Violet, south-west Victoria, I have 

 been told that it is a common occurrence to find nests in 

 rabbit-burrows, and occasionally in the decaying tops of 

 fence posts, owing to the trees of a suitable nature being 

 scarce. 



Two short notes on this familar bird may be interesting. 

 The first is of a Rosella, now living, at Hawthorn, aged 21 

 months, that is able to speak 36 phrases, words of excla- 



