y% cassell's book of birds. 



two middle tail-feathers, and the outer border of the wings, brownish grey ; the back, shoulders, 

 under side, and outer tail-feathers, greyish chocolate brown. The shoulders and sides are the 

 darkest ; the upper wing-covers are white ; the eyes dark brown ; the beak lead colour ; the feet 

 blueish grey. The female resembles the male, except that the face and the crest are dark olive 

 green ; the feathers near the throat are brownish grey, those of the under parts of the body 

 and upper tail-cover yellow; the four middle feathers of the tail are grey, the rest yellow, and, 

 with the exception of the outer web, edged delicately with brown. Gould, whom we have to 

 thank for a full description of the Corella, found this beautiful bird in great numbers in the interior 

 of Australia. On the coast it is rare in comparison with the thousands seen on the plains of the 

 interior, and in eastern Australia it seems to be more numerous than in the western parts of that 

 continent. 



In summer the Corellas build their nests near the Hunter and Peel rivers, and other streams 

 running north, if they can find suitable trees. After the breeding season they assemble in innumerable 

 flocks, which cover whole tracts of country, or alight in hundreds upon the overhanging branches of 

 the gum-trees. In September these flocks begin to migrate to their breeding-place, and in February 

 or March return to the north, They devour grass seed, like the rest of their congeners, but cannot 

 live without water, and, therefore, must remain in the neighbourhood of a stream. They are very 

 active, run with facility on the ground, and fly slowly but often to a considerable distance before 

 they alight. They are but little afraid of man, and if startled from the ground, wend their way to the 

 nearest tree, perch upon a branch, and, as soon as the danger is over, return to the ground ; not 

 being shy, they are easily captured. They lay five or six white eggs, about an inch long. Corellas 

 have only lately been brought to Europe in any considerable number ; at the present day they 

 are to be met with in all large zoological gardens, and may be obtained from the principal dealers 

 in birds. They require but little tending, and need no particular surroundings for breeding ; but they 

 should be left as much as possible to themselves. Two birds in the Hamburgh Zoological Gardens 

 sat by turns on their eggs, the female from the noon of one day to the forenoon of the next, and the 

 male in the intermediate hours. As far as we know, such a division of parental duties has not been 

 observed in any other parrots. 



THE GROUND PARRAKEET. 

 The Ground Parrakeet (Pczoporinus formosus) reminds us in many particulars of the Owl- 

 Parrot, or Kakapo ; its plumage is of similar colour, and its habits resemble those of that bird in many 

 respects. The length of the Ground Parrakeet is about thirteen inches, the stretch of wing some- 

 what less ; the plumage is dark green, striped with a still darker shade of the same colour ; that of 

 the upper side is dark grass green, each feather irregularly striped with black and yellow; upon 

 the head and neck there are black lines. The neck and breast are pale yellowish green ; the belly 

 and under covers of the wings a beautiful yellowish green, with numerous curved black stripes ; the 

 brow is scarlet ; the quill-feathers green on the outer web, and on the inner dark brown, spotted 

 with pale yellow. The four middle tail-feathers are green, marked with yellow ; the side tail-feathers, 

 on the contrary, yellow, spotted with dark green ; the eyes are dark brown, with delicate light blue 

 circles ; the feet and tarsi blueish flesh colour. Gould informs us that the Ground Parrakeet is spread 

 over all parts of South Australia, including Van Dieman's Land ; in the northern latitudes of that 

 continent it has never been observed. This bird lives almost exclusively on the ground, and is 

 seldom seen among the branches of trees. Barren sandy districts, abounding in low grass and 

 weeds, or moors covered with rushes, constitute its favourite haunts ; there it lives a retired life, 

 either alone or in pairs, and is, therefore, almost impossible to find without the assistance of a dog; 



