22 ASHBY — Re-appearance in Snath Austral in of Swift Lorikeet. 



When feeding in the Peppermints they sometimes utter a 

 warbling note. 



While I have not myself seen them feeding on the flowers 

 of the Blue Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxly on), the only Eucalypt now 

 in flower in our district, from all the specimens examined by 

 me, large amounts of honey exuded from their beaks and nos- 

 trils immediately on being shot. 



The crops and stomachs contained a variety of food, much 

 triturated, including insects and seeds, and parts of the ovaries 

 of the Peppermints. As far as I could ascertain their 

 favourite food before sundown is the unripe seed vessels of 

 Eucalyptus odorata. In an afternoon I have counted several 

 score near my house, so we may conclude that there are many 

 thousands of this interesting visitor scattered throughout our 

 hill country. 



The following are the measurements of the two finest 

 specimens, male and female, that I examined: — 



Male : — 



Total length .... 10.6" 26.5 cm. 



Tail 5" 12.5 cm. 



Wing 5" 12.5 cm. 



Tarsus 0.7" 1.75 cm. 



Cnlmen 0.6" 1.5 cm. 



Female : — 



Total length .... 10.2" 25.5 cm. 



Tail 5" 12.5 cm. 



Wing 0.7" 1.75 cm. 



^ulmen 0.5" 1.25 cm. 



While in most of the females the two centre tail feathers 

 were nearly one inch shorter in a fully adult specimen the 

 measurements of the female were identical with the male. 



Adult Male: — Forehead deep red, lores yellow, fore- 

 part of crown deep blue, changing to rich green at back of 

 crown; nape, back of neck, back and upper tail coverts being 

 uniformly of the same rich green. 



The lower portions of cheek, chin, and throat bright red, 

 margined more or less definitely with yellow, this line joining 

 The yellow of the lores. 



Ear coverts — Upper portion of cheeks -and side of neck, 

 bluish green. 



