THE



239



Hvtcultural fllbagasme,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



New Series. —VOL. III. — NO. 8. —All rights reserved. JUNE, 1905.


BOURKE’S PARRAKEET.


Neophema bourkei.


By the Rev. Hubert D. Asteey, M.B.O.U., etc.


To write much as yet about this most lovely member of

that most lovely group of Neophema, is difficult, for those that

I have the good fortune to possess have been with me a com¬

paratively short time.


The genus Neophema is distinguished from other so-called

Grass-Parrakeets of Australia by having the four central tail

feathers of almost equal length ; whereas the Psephotus group—

of which the well-known Redrump Parrakeet, and the Many-

coloured are members, as well as the “Beautiful” and the

“ Golden - shouldered,” have the two central tail feathers

markedly longer than the rest.


Of the Neophema group, seven species are known, but all

lovers of these fascinating little Parrakeets live in hope of one

or two more yet being added—for who knows what treasures

may still be hidden in the interior of that vast continent from

which they come ?


Mr. Setli-Smith’s charming work on the Parrakeets will

inform those who possess it about this group, but I might

perhaps remind our members that the known species are these:


i. The Blue-winged Grass-Parrakeet ( Neophema venusta').


ii. The Elegant Grass-Parrakeet (N. elegans).


iii. The Orange-bellied Grass-Parrakeet (N. chrysogastra').


iv. The Rock Grass-Parrakeet ( N. petrophila).


All these four bear a strong family likeness, the one to

the other.



