Something about Hooded Parrakeets and other Birds. 133


SOMETHING ABOUT

HOODED PARRAKEETS & OTHER BIRDS


of “The Northern Territory” of Australia.


By G. A. Heumann.


Beading not long ago Mr. Astley’s article in No. 3, Vol. IV.

of the Avicultural Magazine as to the breeding of the Hooded

Parrakeets, and later in No. IV. his remarks on the colouration of

the head and hood, it may be of interest to members to hear a few

words on this question from one who has seen and studied them

in their native home, the Northern Territory of Australia.


Six years ago I conceived the idea of “ doing ” the Northern

Territory with a friend, and leaving Sydney early in June by boat,

we arrived in due course, via Brisbane and Thursday Island, in Port

Darwin. The train leaves here twice a week for Pine Creek, tire

last outpost of civilization, and takes 9—10 hours to do the 140

miles, providing the driver does not see a “turkey” along the line,

.when he will stop the train to shoot the “ turkey ” first. We were

fortunate enough to be able to hire donkeys to take us into the

interior, but I will not be wearisome with a description of my travels

but come straight to the point on which I wanted to write. Camp¬

ing in a place called Granite Bocks, 'we were fortunate in having

picked a spot where parrots, pigeons, and finches abounded, more so

than in any other place we camped in during our trip. These

granite rocks are most interesting in themselves. Huge granite

boulders lie strewn about; above them again would lie one, some¬

times two, or even three separate boulders. One wonders at the

wonderful energy required to roll these boulders on the top of each

other. Two water-holes, each one about 100 feet in circumference,,

are the attraction for the thousands of birds which come to visit

this dreary spot. The weather in these regions is very hot during

the day-time, even in the colder months, registering 120° and more

in the sun, but sinking to 40° at five or six in the morning at times,

and I may say that not expecting this low temperature we had not

sufficiently provided for the cold and felt it at times most intensely.

The sun rose (July) about 7 a.m., but already, at about 6.30 the



