218 THE BIEDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Red-mantled Parrakeet. 



Platycercus xanthogenys. 



North-east Australia. 



Head, sides of the neck and all under surface scarlet; the feathers 

 of the breast and abdomen with narrow pale yellow edges; cheeks yellow; 

 feathers of nape and back black bordered with red; black patch on upper 

 wing-coverts, the anterior ones from the bend of the wing down to the 

 primary-coverts, and also the base of the outer webs of the primaries, 

 blue ; under wing-coverts blue ; quills underneath black. Total length 

 12.5 inches, wing 5.45, tail 6, bill 0.56, tarsus 0.63. 



Nothing is known of this bird except the type skin, and even 

 its precise habitat is unknown. It was in Gould's original 

 collection. 



The Yellow-cheeked Parrakeet. 



Platycercus icterotis. 



Western Australia. 



Feathers of the back black, bordered with green, stained with red; 

 a black patch on the upper vving-coverts ; blue on the bend of the wing 

 and down. Total length 10.5 inches, wing 5.3, tail 5, bill 0.61, tarsus 0.6. 

 Female duller in colour, and young mostly green. The eggs (4 to 6) 

 measure 1.04 x .84 inch. 



This bird is very similar to the foregoing, except that it has 

 a mottled-green mantle instead of a red one. It is frequently 

 called the "Rosella" in Western Australia, and lives well in 

 captivity. 



Genus Porphyrocephalus. 



The Red-capped Parrakeet. 



PorphyrocepJialus spurius. 



West and North-west Australia. 



The cap is deep red; lores dusky red; cheeks yellowish-green; back 

 and scapulars green; rump and upper tail-coverts greenish yellow; breast 

 and abdomen blue; under tail-coverts red; wing-coverts green; primary 

 coverts and under wing-coverts blue; central tail-feathers green, blue- 

 towards tips. Total length 15 inches, wing 6.3, tail 7.5, bill 0.98, tarsus 

 0.76. The female is duller and smaller. The eggs (6 to 8) measure 1.14 x 

 .89 inch. 



This bird is often called the King Parrot in Western Aiis- 

 tralia, and it certainly is a splendid bird and very conspicuous 

 when feeding on the seeds of various trees. 



