BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 95 



Nest. A hole in the side of a lofty eucalypt is the usual site. 



Eggs. Clutch four to six usually; elliptical in shape; texture 

 of shell fine; surface glossy; colour pure white. Dimensions in 

 mm. of a clutch : (1) 27.5 x 21, (2) 27 x 21, (3) 27 x 21.5, (4) 28 

 x 22. 



Breeding Season. October to December. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, King and several other 

 of the principal islands in Bass Strait. 



Observations. I suppose, next to the Eosella (Platycercus ex- 

 imius), the Green Parrakeet, or, as it is more commonly called, the 

 Green Parrot, with its cry of "Cossack, cossack," is the most 

 familiar of the Psittaci in Tasmania. It is widely distributed, there 

 being but few districts where it is not found. All classes of country 

 are frequented by it; its natural home is, however, among well- 

 wooded hills and gullies. Owing to certain changes that have 

 taken place in its diet, it is now very frequently to be seen in open 

 cultivated districts, where at certain seasons it can obtain a plenti- 

 ful supply of food. It is owing to this change in diet, or more 

 correctly speaking the development of a catholic taste, that the 

 species is held in much disfavour by farmers, who do not appreciate 

 toll being levied on their cereal crops. In addition to seeds, insects 

 and their larvae, gum blossoms or what they contain are fed on to 

 a limited extent. The flight of this Parrakeet is fairly powerful, 

 the bird progressing in long undulations. 



So far as I am aware this species has not yet developed any 

 strong fruit-eating proclivities. I have seen a flock settle on the 

 ground among well-laden apple trees and busily search in the 

 grass for terrestrial food, paying no attention to the fruit on the 

 trees close by. I hardly think the same would happen were ground 

 food scarce. 



EOSELLA 



(Platycercus eximius, Shaw). 



Male. Crown of the head, back of the neck, chest, and under 

 tail coverts scarlet ; cheeks extending down to the fore-neck white ; 

 feathers of the back black, broadly margined with yellow; rump 

 and upper tail coverts pale green, faintly tinged with yellow; 

 centre of the abdomen yellow, towards the vent pale green; 

 shoulders and middle of the wing intense blue; external edges of 

 the primaries blue, remainder dark brown; two central tail feathers 

 bluish-green, other tail feathers dark blue, passing into light blue; 

 bill horn colour; feet blackish-brown. Dimensions in mm.: 

 Length, 340; bill, 19.5; wing, 157; tail, 190; tarsus, 21. 



Female. Kesembles male in plumage. Dimensions in mm. : 

 Length, 335; bill, 19; wing, 159; tail, 186; tarsus, 21. 



Nest. Placed within the trunk of a tree, or in the end of a 



