194 PENNANTIAN BROAD-TAIL. 



pense and trouble incurred in their capture is, how- 

 ever, in part repaid, not only by a saving of their 

 crops, but by the acquisition of a wholesome addi- 

 tion to the table, as this as well as other species are 

 reported to he of excellent and delicate flavour. Ac- 

 cording to Mr Caley, whose account of this bird we 

 quote from the Linnaean Transactions, " it is called 

 by the natives Dulang and Julang. Like the King's 

 Parrot (Plat, scapulatus), it is found in large flocks 

 among the ripe Indian corn, both species intermixed. 

 It varies much in colour, but as the greater part of 

 the flock is of the colour of the female, it may also 

 be taken for granted that they are young birds. The 

 natives tell me it makes its nest chiefly in the Pep- 

 permint-tree (Eucalyptus piperita), always in the 

 body, but never in the boughs. Sometimes it en- 

 larges the hole through which it enters. Year after 

 year the same place is frequented for the purposes 

 of incubation. It makes no nest, but from the de- 

 cayed parts of the tree. It has four young ones. 

 The eggs are white. I have met with this bird in 

 November in the most mountainous parts of the coun- 

 try; but I apprehend it leaves these parts in the 

 winter." 



In its motions it exhibits great activity and live- 

 liness, and it walks upon the ground with facility, 

 and without any of that awkward pait, so conspicu- 

 ous in the typical Parrots. It is fiequently kept in 

 a tame or caged state, chiefly for the beauty of its 

 piuraage and handsome carriage/ as few or none of 



