THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 155 



NATIVE BIRDS BREEDING IN THE ROYAL PARK 



IN 1890. 



The Magpie (Gymnorhina leuconota) has bred every year for 

 many seasons past ; one, and sometimes two, pair nest. 



The Laughing Jackass (Dacelo gigas) also breeds regularly 

 every season ; one pair. 



The Pied Grallina {Grallina picata). — Two pairs of this bird 

 nest regularly in the gardens. 



The Australian Coot (Fulica australis). — A pair of these birds 

 made a nest in a pittosporum bush, in an old sparrow's nest, 

 about ten feet from the ground, and reared three young ones. 



The Boobook Owl (Ninox boobook). — One pair of these birds 

 breed in the gardens. 



The Scarlet Lory Parrot, or Pennant's Parrakeet (Platycercus 

 pennanti). — A pair breed regularly every year. 



The Sacred Kingfisher (Halcyon sanctus). — There are two pairs 

 nesting in the park this season. 



The Superb Warbler (Mahtrus cyaneus). — Two pairs are at 

 present nesting in my garden. 



The Yellow-rumped Geobasileus (Acanthiza chrysorrhoea). — 

 One pair bred this season in the gardens. 



The Black Fantail (Sauloprocta motacilloides). — Two or three 

 pairs breed yearly. 



The Welcome Swallow (ffirundo neoxena). — Numbers nest in 

 the buildings in the gardens. 



The White-shafted Fantail (Rhvpidura albiscapa). — One pair 

 generally breed yearly. 



The Oriole (Mimeta viridis). — These birds breed regularly. 



THE PRINCESS OF WALES PARRAKEET. 



We take the following from the South Australian Register, 23rd 

 August, 1890, forwarded by the Rev. J. J. Halley : — 



"to the editor. 



" Sir, — I yesterday saw two caged specimens of this almost 

 unknown bird. So far as I can learn, no other living ones have 

 been brought to Adelaide, and the only skins hitherto obtained 

 were those of three birds shot by Mr. F. G. Waterhouse, at 

 Howell's Ponds, near Newcastle Waters, when on his memorable 

 journey across the continent with Stuart twenty-eight years ago. 

 From these skins, which were sent to the late Mr. Gould in Lon- 

 don (and afterwards returned to our museum), a drawing was 

 made, and a description was written and published in the ' Supple- 

 ment to the Birds of Australia.' As represented by that talented 

 and usually very accurate portrayer of birds, however, the colours 



