OF VIGTORIA. 251 



mation, and sentences of six words. Twenty-three of 

 tliese I put on paper. It reminded me of Humboldt's 

 story of the South American venerable parrot, which was 

 the sole possessor of a literally dead language, the whole 

 tribe of Indians having become extinct. 



The second note is on a bird which lived for two years 

 without any feathers. The owner, my friend Mr. W. J. 

 Stephen, remarked to me that it seemed to be undergoing a 

 severe moult when he got it, and it was still uncompleted 

 when he gave it away two years later. With but a 

 sprinkling of down and no feathers, it waxed strong and 

 grew fat, and, despite the adverse circumstances, it w.is 

 very active. 



The Rosella is a species distinguished by its broad tail 

 and peculiar beauty. 



Nest. — Hollows of trees are used, and the eggs are 

 placed merely upon the decayed wood. 



Eggs. — Five, six, or seven to a sitting ; white. Length, 

 1 inch ; breadth, 0*8 inch. 



