60 



Its food consists chiefly of berries and seeds : but I suspect that it also devours small insects 

 and their larvae ; for I have observed flocks of a dozen or more on the ground, engaged apparently 

 in a search of that kind, and it is a well-established fact that several of the Australian members 

 of this group subsist partly on insect food. When the corn-fields are ready for the harvest, flocks 

 of this gaily-coloured Parrakeet resort to them to feed on the ripe grain ; and it is very pretty to 

 see them, on any alarm being given, rise in the ah together and settle on a fence, or on the limb 

 of a dead tree, to wait till the danger has passed, keeping up all the time a low, pleasant chatter. 



This species bears confinement remarkably well, and is very docile and familiar even when 

 taken as an adult bird. It is also very intelligent, and possesses the faculty of mimicry in a high 

 degree. 



One of these birds has been in the possession of a lady at Christchurch (Canterbury) for 

 more than eight years. Although full-grown when first caged, it has learnt to articulate several 

 words with great clearness. It is very tame, and displays a considerable amount of intelligence — 

 leaves its cage every day for exercise, and returns to it immediately on the appearance of a 

 stranger. It knows its fair owner's voice, will respond to her call, and will "shake hands" with 

 each foot alternately in the most sedate manner. Another, in our own possession, survived con- 

 finement for more than eleven years, and appeared then in perfect health and strength, when it 

 fell a victim to the household puss. This bird could articulate sentences of three or four words 

 with great precision of accent; and the loss of so intimate a family-friend was " sincerely lamented" 

 by all our circle. 



A hole in a decaying or dead tree affords this species a natural breeding-place, the eggs being 

 laid on the pulverized rotten wood at the bottom ; for there is no further attempt at forming a 

 nest. The months of November and December constitute the breeding-season. The eggs vary in 

 number from three to seven ; and a native stated that he once found a nest containing as many as 

 eleven ; but five is the usual number. Mr. Gilbert Mair informs me that a pair of these birds 

 bred in the hollow trunk of a Hmau-tree for several successive years, although robbed of their 

 young every season, and that he has frequently observed the cock bird feeding the hen, during 

 incubation, by regurgitating berries from his crop. Although exhibiting a preference for hollow 

 trees, they sometimes nest in the holes or crevices of rocks. On the Upper Wanganui the natives 

 pointed out to me a small round cavity in the perpendicular cliff forming the bank of the river, 

 and assured me that this was the entrance to a small chamber where a pair of Parrakeets had 

 reared their young in security for many years. The eggs are very broadly oval, measuring 1-05 

 by *85. They are pure white and are very finely granulate on the surface, sometimes with minute 

 limy excrescences near the thicker end. 



