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Rev. H. D. Astley,



v. The Turquoisiue (N. pulchella).


vi. The Splendid Grass-Parrakeet (TV. splendida).


These two have a strong family resemblance.


And last but not least


vii. Bourke’s Parrakeet (N. bourkei), which as regards colour¬


ing is quite unlike any of its group.


In this respect, it stands by itself, having struck out an

original line of its own, and made one think more deeply of the

mysteries of creation. It is a very protective colouring too, fo’*

one can well believe that when this little parrakeet is running

amongst ripe grass on sunburnt soil, it would be most difficult to

see. Yet one knows that the most vividly coloured birds have a

marvellous power of concealing their colours amongst their

natural surroundings. But the power to select a particular

colouring is indeed marvellous.


To think that the Bourke’s Parrakeet and the Splendid

Grass-Parrakeet have originally sprung from the same parent

stock, (for so I suppose it is), makes one sing one’s Te deum with

renewed energ3 r ! The delicate forget-me-not blue and blush

rose on the Bourke’s Parrakeet is to be seen not infrequently—

for how often the same Hand paints the same colours on

different portions of the great canvas of Nature—in the sky at

sunset. A few evenings ago I pointed to the sky and said,

“ Rook ! Bourke’s Parrakeets ! ” There were precisely the same

delicate blues and pinks—rose-coloured clouds floating on a pale

blue sky. Was it from that that these Parrakeets took their

lovely colours ?


3? v” A- i’c V'f


The male bird has a pretty warbling song, somewhat after

the warble of a Budgerigar, but softer, with no shrill interludes,

and the call note is also like a Budgerigar’s, but softer again.


Indeed, had I not had wiser and more learned people to

guide me, I should have thought that the Bourke’s and the

Budgerigar were connected more closely than in merely being

grass-parrakeets. There are the same scaly-looking feathers on

the wings; the same manner of the male in sitting with his head

close to his mate’s, and warbling for half-an-liour at a time ; the



