58 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



and many others surpass the larger and noisier members of the 

 family Psittacidce. The others most worthy of attention, are the 

 Beautiful Parrakeet (Psephotus pw^cAerrwjiws), Elegant Grass- 

 Parrakeet (Euphema elegans) Bourke's Grass-Parrakeet (Eup»hema 

 hourkii) and the Porphyry-crowned Lorikeet {Triclioglossus por- 

 j)hijrocephalus). In the right hand corner at the bottom of this 

 case is a group consisting of the male and female Ground 

 Parrakeet ( Pezoporus forinosus)^ togetlier with the nest and eggs. 

 This species and an allied form found in Western Australia are 

 the only Australian members of the family known to make nests 

 of grass or rushes on the ground, as all the rest resort to the hollow 

 limbs of trees usually at a great height from the ground for the 

 purpose of breeding. 



Order PIOARI^. At the top of the case, in Bay 2, are 

 several representative families of the CAPRIMULGID^, in- 

 cluding jEgotheles, Cajn'imulgus, Eurostopodus, and Podargus. 

 Attention should be given to the Tawny-shouldered Podargus 

 {Podargus strigoides), better known to many under the erroneous 

 local name of " More pork," — the bird which utters the peculiar 

 note resembling these words being the Boobook Owl ; also to the 

 smallest bird of the family, the Owlet Nightjar {JEgotheles novce- 

 hoUandice). The Dollar Bird {Eurystomus pacificus), the Bee- 

 eater {Merops ornatus), and the different species of King-fishers 

 belonging to the genera Dacelo, Ealcyon, Alcyone and Tanysiptera 

 will be found in the same case. On the bottom of this case are 

 the various species of Cuckoos found in Australia. 



Order PASSERES, are in the wall case of Bay No. 2. 

 This is the largest order of birds in Australia and only 

 a cursory glance can be bestowed on the leading families. 

 The family HIRUNDINID^ comprises several graceful 

 genera in the Swallows, and Martins; a pure white or 

 alljino specimen of the Fairy Martin, (Lagenoplastes artel) will 

 be found in this case, and at the bottom of it are the Wood 

 Swallows (Artamidce). A faithful representation is given of the 

 position in which the Diamond Bird (Pardalotus punctatus), forms 

 its burrow, at the end of which it constructs its nest of loosely 

 interwoven strips of bark or grasses; members of the same 

 family will be found in close proximity. On the right hand 



