Vol. IX. 

 igio 



] Barrett, Notes on the Rock-Pavvakeet. 1^5 



Along the cliff face the nests were difficult to locate, and still 

 harder to reach, for several which I examined were placed at 

 the end of burrows from 3 to 4 feet in length. On the summit, 

 however, the eggs often lay under a flat stone, raised a few 

 inches from the ground by fragments of rock. One nest, just 

 above the water's edge, and containing five young, was between 

 two vertical rocks, a situation in which the eggs of the Oyster- 

 catcher are often found. 



I succeeded in obtaining a series of photographs — nest with 

 eggs, nest and young, and an adult bird perched on a rock. 

 Unfortunately I had only four plates, or I might have secured 

 other interesting studies of the graceful little birds. 



The nesting season was evidently at its height at the time of 

 our visit, for we found nestlings in all stages of development, 

 and nests containing from one to the full complement (four) 

 of eggs. Although one nest contained five young birds, I am 

 inclined to think that four is the average. Several nests we 

 examined held three eggs highly incubated. 



The newly-hatched Neophema is as ugly in appearance as its 

 parents are beautiful. The nestling down is pale yellowish- 

 grey — not a pleasing colour. The eggs are pure white, with a 

 finely-textured, glossy shell. 



Gould, in writing of the Rock-Parrakeet, states that he 

 received specimens from Port Lincoln, but that the principal 

 habitat of the species appeared to be the western coast, on 

 Rottnest and other islands near Swan River. Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell, in his " Nests and Eggs," draws attention to the fact 

 that Dr. Ramsay does not indicate A^. petropJiila for South 

 Australia in his "Tabular List." It seems probable that Gould's 

 specimens came from the Coffin Bay district, which is not a 

 great distance from Port Lincoln. 



Gould further states that the Rock-Parrakeet breeds in the holes 

 of the most precipitous cliffs, choosing in preference those facing 

 the water and most difficult of access. My observations at Goat 

 Island bear out the latter part of this statement, for the majority 

 of the nests we located were in the cliff face, and many were 

 inaccessible. The great ornithologist speaks of the extremely 

 rapid flight of this species, a noticeable feature, but I have not 

 seen them " mount to a great height in the air." 



Mr. Campbell's description (in "Nests and Eggs," pp. 652, 653) 

 of a visit to Rottnest Island, where he found NeopJievia petrophila 

 nesting in large numbers, gives a better idea of such a scene 

 than I can hope to do. But my notes, dealing as they do with 

 a different locality, may prove of some interest. 



