216 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Red-backed Rosella. 



Platycercus erythropeplus. 



Australia. 



Head, neck, and lower parts red, clieeks blue, feathers of upper part 

 of the back black, with dark red edges, as in P. elegans; scapulars black, 

 edged with pale yellow and tipped with red; lower back greenish yellow, 

 each feather edged with red; the red feathers of the breast have yellow 

 bases, wings as in P. eximius. 



It is not known from what part of Australia the type skin 

 of this bird came, and many consider it as a hybrid between 

 P. elegans and P. eximivs. The original label from the type 

 skin was lost. 



The Rosella. 

 Platycercus eximms. 



Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and South 

 Queensland. 



Head, sides of neck, breast, and under tail-coverts scarlet, feathers 

 of the back black, edged with greenish-yellow, lower breast yellow, with 

 a scarlet band down the middle, a black patch on the wing-coverts. Total 

 length 13.5 inches, wing 6.1-6.5, tail 6.5, bill 0.7. The female is not so 

 bright in colour. The eggs (5 to 9) measure 1.03 x .81 inch. 



This is probably one of the most plentiful of Australian 

 Parrots, and its bright plumage makes it a favourite cage bird. 

 It can also be taught to whistle simple tunes. One in the 

 Zoological Gardens at Melbourne at the time of writing has 

 been 24 years in captivity. 



The Yellow-mantled Parrakeet. 



Platycercus splendidus. 



South Queensland, New South Wales, and interior of South Australia. 



Very similar to P. eximius, but has no yellow spot on the nape, the 

 edges of the black feathers of the back are gamboge-yellow, with no 

 greenish tinge; the rump, upper tail-coverts, and lower abdomen pale 

 greenish. Total length 12.5 inches, wing 6.1, tail 6.2, bill 0.7, tarsus 0.7. 



This bird was first procured by Gilbert near Brisbane in 

 1844; it is a comparatively rare bird. 



The Masters Parrakeet. 



Platycercus mastersianus. 



New South Wales. 



This bird is very similar to P. splendidus. The front, top of the head, 

 nape and ear-coverts crimson, mottled with yellow on the sides of the 

 head, ear-coverts and nape; feathers of the neck washed with red; rump 

 and upper tail-eoverts crimson; scapulars black, broadly margined with 



