EUPHEMA AURANTIA. 



(Orange-Bellied Grass Farrakeet.) 



Male — Foreliead, banded with blue, margined before and behind with greenish ; crown and upper surface, grass graen ; shoulders, part of 

 the secondaries, and outer edges of the primaries, deep blue ; cheeks and breast, yellowish green, becoming still more yellow on the abdomen 

 and under tail coverts ; centre of abdomen, bright orange ; the two central tail feathers green— the others are green on the outer webs and 

 tipped with yellow, the inner webs being brown ; irides and bill, dark brown ; feet, brown. 



The Female differs from the Male in being much less brightly colored, but still retains sufficient resemblance to be 

 very easily recognised. 



Length, 8i inches ; wing, 4i ; tail, 4i ; tarsus, ^. 



This species is found in Victoria, South Australia, the islands of Bass' Straits, and (though rarely) in New South "Wales, and 

 also, during the summer season, in Tasmania, the small islands to the south are its principal habitat ; it is almost the only land bird found in 

 those solitary spots. In common with the other members of the family, this species is usually observed feeding upon the ground in grassy 

 situations ; its food consisting principally of the seeds of such as are found in damp swampy localities. 



EUPHEMA ELEGANS. 



(Elegant Grass Parrakeet.) 



FoEEHEAi), deep blue, bordered above with metallic light blue, which is continued over the eye; lores, bright yellow; upper surface, rich olive 

 green ; shoulders, blue ; primaries and secondaries, black ; throat and chest, greenish yellow, graduating into bright yellow on the abdomen 

 and under tail coverts ; centre of abdomen, pale orange ; two middle tail feathers, greenish blue, the rest being blue at the base and broadly 

 tipped with yellow ; bill and feet, blackish brown ; irides, dark brown. The Female and young have no bar across the forehead. 



Length, 9 inches ; wing, 4-| ; tail, 5i ; tarsus, ^. 



This Parrakeet has only occasionally occurred in New South Wales. It becomes more numerous in Victoria and South 

 Australia, and is also met with in great numbers in Western Australia, where it appears to be confined to certain localities. Like the former 

 species it resorts to situations where its favorite food (grass seed) is abundant, remaining in the same neighborhood the greater portion of the 

 year. In dry seasons it may be observed near the water holes in great numbers morning and evening. Its flight is rapid and often at a 

 great height in the air. The breeding season is in September and October. Eggs, from four to seven in number, white, 11 lines long by 8^ 

 broad; they are merely deposited in the hole or "spout" of a gum tree. 



MELOPSITTACUS UNDULATUS. 



(Warbling Grass Parrakeet.) 



Cbown of the head and throat, liglit yellow ; ear coverts and back of the neck, yellowish green, striped on and near the head 

 finely, and lower down the back more boldly, with black, assuming the form of crescents on the tertiaries, shoulders and wing coverts, which 

 are all edged with yellow ; lower portion of back, bright green, as is also the under surface of the chest and abdomen ; several spots of bright 

 blue and black ornament the throat, looking very conspicuous on the yellow ground ; two central tail feathers blue, the remainder being 

 bright yellow, except the bases and tips, which are green; irides, straw color; nostrils of male, light blue — of female, fleshy brown ; legs, pale 

 bluish lead color. The young has the whole of the head barred and is destitute of the spots on the throat ; the irides also are grey. 



Length, 7f inches ; wing, 3i ; tail, 4. 



This very pretty and interesting Parrakeet is a denizen of the interior of Australia, ranging over the vast plains in incredible 

 numbers. It frequents the southern portion of the continent in Spring, when grass seed is abundant, but always in some situation where 

 water is near, as it drinks morning and evening. For some unknown cause it is in t\\Q habit of paying occasional visits to districts where its 

 presence has not before been observed, and, departing suddenly, will not be again seen for many years. It bears captivity well, and besides 

 surviving the voyage to England, has been known frequently to rear its young there. Its usual breeding place is the spout of a gum tree, 

 the eggs (four in ninnber) being laid upon the bare vegetable earth Avhich is usually found therein ; their length is 9, and breadth 7 lines • 

 color, pure white. 



