THE WARBLING GRASS OR ZEBRA PARRAKEET. 519 



bo banished. However, I soon overcame the difficulty, for every time that Polly screamed 

 J used to put her into a dark cupboard and not release her for some time. She soon found 

 out my meaning, and it was very amusing to see her push out her head ready for a scream, 

 and then check herself suddenly. 



She was a very nice Polly, and became a great favourite. Her great treat was a half 

 walnut, which she held tightly in one claw while she delicately prized out the kernel with 

 her hooked bill and horny tongue. The end of the poor bird was very tragic ; she got 

 out of window, flew to a tree, and was there shot by a stupid farmer. The history of this 

 bird is given more at length in " My Feathered Friends." 



The general colour of this species is grass-green, variegated in the adult male as 

 follows : The feathers of the forehead are light green, which take a bluish tinge as they 

 approach the crown and nape of the neck, where they are of a lovely purple blue. 

 Just below the purple runs a narrow band of rose colour, and immediately below the 

 rosy line is a streak of black, which is narrow towards the back of the neck, but soon 

 becomes broader, and envelops the cheek and chin. It does not go quite round the neck, 

 as there is an interval of nearly half an inch on the back of the neck. The quill-feathers 

 of both wings and tail are darkish green; the wings are black beneath, and the tail 

 yellowish. The two central feathers of the tail are always much longer than the others, 

 sometimes projecting nearly four inches. The female is wholly green, and may thereby be 

 distinguished from her mate. Owing to the variable development of the central feathers 

 of the tail, the length of this bird cannot be accurately given, but may be set down from 

 sixteen to eighteen inches. The upper mandible is coral-red, and the lower is blackish ; 

 the feet are flesh-coloured. 



ONE of the very prettiest and most interesting of the Parrot tribe is the GEASS or 

 ZEBKA PAEEAKSET ; deriving its names from its habits and the markings of its plumage. 



It is a native of Australia, and may be found in almost all the central portions of 

 that land, whence it has been imported in such great numbers as an inhabitant of our 

 aviaries, that when Dr. Bennett was last in England, he found that he could purchase the 

 birds at a cheaper rate in England than in New South Wales. This graceful little creature 

 derives its name of Grass Parrakeet from its fondness for the grass lands, where it may be 

 seen in great numbers, running amid the thick grass blades, clinging to their stems, or 

 feeding on their seeds. It is always an inland bird, being very seldom seen between the 

 mountain ranges and the coasts. 



Of the habits of this bird Mr. Gould writes as follows : " I found -myself surrounded 

 by numbers, breeding in all the hollow spouts of the large Eucalypti bordering the Mokai ; 

 and on crossing the plains between that river and the Peel, in the direction of the Turi 

 mountains, I saw them in flocks of many hundreds, feeding upon the grass seeds that 

 are there abundant. So numerous were they, that I determined to encamp upon the spot, 

 in order to observe their habits and to procure specimens. The nature of their food an 1 

 the excessive heat of these plains compel them frequently to seek the water ; hence my 

 camp, which was pitched near some small fords, was constantly surrounded by large 

 numbers, arriving in flocks varying from twenty to a hundred or more. 



The hours at which they were most numerous were early in the morning, and some 

 time before dark in the evening. Before going down to drink, they alight on the neigh- 

 bouring trees, settling together in clusters, sometimes on the dead branches, and ^at others 

 on the drooping boughs of the Eucalypti. Their flight is remarkably straight and rapid, 

 and is generally accompanied by a screeching noise. During the heat of the day, when 

 sitting motionless among the leaves of the gum-trees, they so closely assimilate in colour z 

 particularly on the breast, that they are with difficulty detected." 



The voice cf this bird is quite unlike the rough screeching sounds in which Parrots 

 seem to delight, and is a gentle, soft, warbling kind of song, which seems to be contained 

 within the body, and is not poured out with that decision which is usually found in birds 

 that can sing, however small their efforts may be. This song, if it may be so called, 

 belongs only to the male bird, who seems to have an idea that his voice must be very 

 agreeable to his mate, for in light warm weather he will warble nearly all day long, and 



