138 IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



already stated, Pig-faced Weed [Mesembryanthemum] 

 screens the rocky caves from the sun. 



The islet was eagerly explored, and under little 

 piles of stones, as well as in hollows along the cliffs, 

 we found many nests of the Rock-Parrots. Fre- 

 quently, when one stooped to examine a natural cairn, 

 or overturn a boulder, a bird was flushed. Along 

 the cliffs the nests were difficult to locate. In some 

 cases the nest cavity was at the end of a burrow three 

 feet or more in length. On the crown of the islet, 

 however, eggs were found in slight depressions, 

 spanned by flat stones. One nest, a few feet above 

 sea-level, between two vertical rocks, contained five 

 birds in the down. Evidently the nesting season was 

 at its meridian. Four eggs appeared to form the 

 average clutch, but several nests each contained 

 three eggs that were heavily incubated. Though its 

 parents are beautiful, the young Rock-Parrot is not a 

 pretty object: the down is pale yellowish-grey. 

 Writing of this species, Gould stated that he received 

 specimens from Port Lincoln, but that the principal 

 habitat of the bird appeared to be the Western coast, 

 on Rottnest and other islands, near Swan River, 

 West Australia. It is probable that Gould's speci- 

 mens came from Kellidie Bay, which is not a great 

 distance from Port Lincoln. Gould also observed 

 that the Rock-Parrot bred in holes of the most pre- 

 cipitous cliffs, showing a preference for those which 

 faced the water and were most difficult of access. 

 Observations on Goat Island confirm the latter part 

 of the statement, for there, in the majority of cases, 

 nests were among hollows in the cliffs, and some were 

 inaccessible. 



The trip to the West coast of the Peninsula was 

 intensely interesting to ourselves, and beneficial to 

 bird-life. Representations were made to the proper 

 authorities, with the result that the Rock-Parrots 

 were placed on the list of species that are protected 



