172 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



peopled and barren parts of Australia that is not so- 

 much to be wondered at. 



As a rule it nests in holes in dead branches, but 

 Gould relates that he found the eggs on the ground, 

 among loose stones on one of the islands in Bass's 

 Straits, where there was no tree of any size, only 

 dwarf " tea-tree " scrub. So much for the Turquoisine's 

 adaptability to circumstances. 



The seeds of the different kinds of eucalyptus, as well 

 as of the native grasses, form the food of these and 

 many other Parrakeets in their native "bush", and it 

 seems a pity that the former cannot be imported in 

 bulk, as it would be a useful addition to the dietary 

 of the Australian inhabitants of our aviaries; but perhaps 

 we shall see it advertised by and by. 



There is one other point about the Turquoisine that 

 may be briefly adverted to, namely, that it is of a mild 

 and peaceful disposition, and although not as social as 

 some of its congeners, it rarely quarrels or interferes 

 with its companions, whether of its own or other species. 



The scientific name is Euphema pulchella. 



