234 Bird-keeping. 



yellow at the base, and grey at the tip. The head and 

 throat of the male are lemon yellow, and there is a 

 patch of red on the ears. The back and under part of 

 the body are brownish-grey, the wings of a greyer 

 tinge edged with white. The tail is long and pointed, 

 the two central feathers being brown, and much longer 

 than the others, which are grey ; some being tinged 

 with black, and yellow underneath. The hen has a 

 green tinge pervading the yellow head and throat, and 

 a number of bars of yellow and very dark brown cross- 

 ing her tail. This bird is very sprightly and active, 

 and runs a good deal upon the ground among the long 

 grass-stems, the seeds of which it eats. It is gentle 

 and sociable, and fond of notice. 



The GROUND PARRAKEET (Pezoporus formosus) 

 derives its name from being almost always seen on 

 the ground. Mr. Gould says it never perches on a 

 tree, but it has been seen on a tea-tree scrub occasion- 

 ally. It lays its eggs on the bare ground, and is like 

 a pheasant in some of its habits. It runs with great 

 swiftness, wending its way through the grass, and when 

 forced to take flight, flies to a very little height from 

 the ground, and remains a very short time on its wings. 

 The prevailing colour of the plumage is dark green, 

 mottled with black and yellow. In confinement it 

 should have a long cage, in which it may have a good 

 run. 



The MANY - COLOURED PARRAKEET (Psepkotus 



