514, THE ROSE-HILL PARRAKEET. 



tliis strange land, and finds the Parrakeets taking the place of the sparrows of his native 

 country, quite as familiar and almost as pert, perching on the trees or fences, and regarding 

 him with great indifference. But the novelty soon wears off, and before long his only 

 emotions at the sight of a Parrot are hatred at its thieving propensities, and a great longing 

 to eat it. As to this particular species, its flesh is cultivated for its delicacy and peculiar 

 flavour, and Mr. Gould is so appreciative of its merits, that he waxes quite eloquent when 

 speaking of Parrakeet pie. 



These birds are gregarious, assembling in little companies, probably composed of the 

 parents and their young, and haunting almost every kind of locality ; trees, rocks, grass, 

 fields, or gully, being equally in favour. They are excellent runners, getting over the 

 ground with surprising ease and celerity ; and there are few prettier sights than to behold 

 a flock of these gorgeous birds, decked in all the varied beauty of their feathery garments, 

 scudding over the ground in search of food, their whole movements instinct with vivacity, 

 and assuming those graceful attitudes which are best suited for displaying the beauty of 

 the colouring. 



The food of these birds consists mostly of grass seeds, but they also feed upon the 

 flowers of the gum-trees, upon grubs and different insects. Whenever there is a scarcity 

 of food, the Yellow-bellied Parrakeets betake themselves to human habitations, and crowd 

 around the farm-doors with as much confidence as if they formed part of the regular 

 establishment. There is, however, not very much need for this intrusion into the farm- 

 yard, as its natural food is simple and varied, and the powers of wing are sufficiently great 

 to carry the bird over a large extent of country. The flight of this species is powerful, and 

 is achieved by means of a series of very wide undulations. Yet on some occasions the 

 mendicant Parrakeets may be counted by hundreds, as they press around the barn-door, 

 disputing every chance grain of corn with the poultry, and behaving with perfect self- 

 reliance. 



In captivity, the Yellow-bellied Parrakeet is a hardy bird, and is well adapted for 

 a caged life. 



The nest of this bird is made in the bark of a gum-tree, and the eggs are in colour a 

 pure white, and in number average from six to eight. The season for nest-building is from 

 September to January. When the young are hatched, they are covered with a coating of 

 soft white cottony down. 



The colouring of this species is very magnificent. The forehead is rich crimson, and 

 the back is a peculiar mottled green, each feather being of a deep black-green, edged 

 with the same hue, but of a much lighter character. The throat and the middle of the 

 wings are blue, the breast and abdomen are bright golden yellow, and the under tail- 

 coverts are marked with a few red dashes. The two middle feathers of the tail are green, 

 and the remainder are blue, dark at the base, but becoming lighter towards the tip. The 

 female is similarly coloured, but not so brilliantly. 



ANOTHEE most beautiful example of this genus is found in the ROSE-HILL PAEEAKEET, 

 popularly known to dealers by the name of the Rosella Parrot. 



This most lovely bird is found in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, and although 

 very plentiful in places which it frequents, it is a very local bird, haunting one spot in 

 hundreds, and then becoming invisible for a range of many miles. In the open country 

 it lives in little companies like the preceding species, and is even more familiar, being 

 exceedingly inquisitive, as is the nature of all the Parrot tribe. Plentiful as it is, there 

 are few birds which are likely to suffer more from the gun, as its plumage is so magnificent 

 and its form so elegant that it is in great request among the dealers, who are always sure 

 of a sale when the beautiful skin is properly stuffed and put into a glass case. 



The wings of the Rose-hill Parrakeet are not very powerful, and do not seem capable 

 of enduring a journey of very great extent, for the bird always takes opportunities of 

 settling as often as it can do so, and then, after running along the ground for awhile, 

 starts afresh. The flight is composed of a succession of undulations. The voice of this 

 species is not so harsh as that of many Parrots, being a pleasing and not very loud whistle, 

 which is often uttered. As the bird is a hardy one, and can bear confinement well, it is 



