PARROTS. 



73 



by the different colour of the cere ; with her this is greyish green, whilst in the male it is a bright 

 blue. The young are without the deep blue spots on the throat, and the regular markings on 

 the head, which is entirely covered with delicate stripes ; when only eight months old, they 

 assume the plumage of the parent birds. 



Shaw was the first naturalist who became acquainted with and described the Waved Parrot, 

 and Gould is the only traveller who gives us any information respecting its natural state ; from him 



THE waved tarrot (Melopsittacus utldulatus). 



we learn that these birds inhabit the whole of the interior of Australia in enormous numbers, especially 

 where there are large tracts of grass, the seeds of which they eat. 



When Gould was investigating the plains in the interior, he saw the Waved Parrots flying about, 

 and remained for some time in the vicinity, in order to observe their habits and mode of life. They 

 came in flocks of from twenty to one hundred to a small lake to drink, and from this locality flew at 

 stated times over the plain in search of the seeds which are their exclusive food ; they went to the 

 water in the greatest numbers in the early morning, or as it grew dark in die evening. During the 

 heat of the day they sat motionless under the leaves of die gum-trees, the holes of which were just 

 then occupied by the pairs who were laying, and as long as they remained quiet, were with difficulty 

 10 



