Vol. XVII 



'9 



^^^'1 ksHBY, New Sub-species of Platycercus elegans. AK 



the under side, as occurs in typical P. flaveolus, for the scarlet and 

 more sombre green of P. adelaidce., largely corresponds with the 

 decreasing rainfall. 



My investigations lead me to the conclusion that P. fieurieitensis, 

 P. adelaidce, and P. flaveolus are all one species. The types of 

 each race are certainly widely different, but undoulitedly inter- 

 mediates exist, making one doubt the advisabihty of referring to 

 any of them as other than varieties of the one dominant form. 



The following notes on some of the skins examined should be 

 of interest : — 



Platycercus fiaveolus (Ciould). — Of two adult birds shot out ol 

 the same flock a1^ Wirrabara, September, igi6 — (i) shows red 

 above beak, slight red wash over crown, upper side pale yellowish- 

 green, and a considerable amount of red distributed over the 

 general yellowish ground-colour of the under side. (2) Also red 

 forehead, but the reddish-orange extends over the crown ; upper 

 tail coverts, outer ones broadly fringed with red, and some of 

 the scapulars showing red ; under side, breast and tail coverts 

 bright red, with some yellow distributed throughout. Both were 

 adult males. (3) Skin from I\Ielrose. also in the Flinders Range, 

 shows still more red both in upper tail coverts and scapulars. 

 (4) Skin obtained at Watervale. April, 1914, by Mr. Parsons, has 

 on the under side the general yellowish ground-colour of P. 

 flaveolus, but the forehead and crown are bright red ; the upper 

 tail coverts have a considerable number of red feathers dis- 

 tributed throughout, and the general tone of the upper side is 

 deeper than is usual in this species ; some of the scapulars are 

 brightly tipped with red, and the secondaries red-fringed ; the 

 breast and under tail coverts bright red and yellow ; bright red 

 distributed throughout the under side. (5) Skin taken by 

 myself on River Murray. 12 miles above Mannum, is fully as red 

 as any of the preceding, but has the mantle and shoulders almost 

 black. 



P. adelaidce (Gould). — (6) Shot by myself at Kangarilla, in the 

 Adelaide Hills, on loth November, 1914, is almost identical with 

 the foregoing, except that the pale yellowish-green fringe to the 

 feathers of the mantle anci scapulars is more marked. 



Bird Notes from Tasmania. 



By H. Stuart Dove, F.Z.S., R.A.O.U., West Devonport (Tas.) 



The Black Strepera on the " Roof of Tasmania." — A friend who 

 spends a great deal of time on the mountain plateaux of our 

 island tells me that in a certain valley at high altitude it is the 

 custom of the large " Black Jay " {Strepera arguta) to flock in the 

 spring of the year in order to feed upon the native berries 

 [Astroloma piiiifoliiriu and others) which are there in profusion. 

 At this time the usually noisy Strepera is very silent, and one does 



