224 THE BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA 



The Golden-shouldered Parrakeet. 



Psephotus chrysopterygius. 



Northern Australia. 



Centre of the crown black; sides of the head, neck, throat, breast, 

 upper part of abdomen, rump, and upper tail-coverts turquoise-blue; back 

 of the neek, back, scapulars, inner wing-coverts, and inner secondaries 

 light greyish-brown; under wing-coverts blue; two central tail feathers 

 olive-green at the base, passing into deep blue, and tipped with black. 

 Total length 9.5 inches, wing 4.3, tail 5.6, bill 0.6, tarsus 0.55. 



The Many-coloured Parrakeet. 



Psephotus multicolor. 



New South Wales, Victoria, South, West, and North-west Australia. 



Bluish green, back and scapulars darker; lower back and rump with 

 three cross bars, two blackish with the feathers edged with blue and one 

 light blue between the two black; abdomen orange-red; blue by the bend 

 of the wing and under wing-coverts; middle tail feathers blue, black at 

 the tip, greenish-brown at the base, the remaining feathers have white 

 tips; all the tail feathers, except the four middle ones, crossed by a band 

 of black near the base. Total length 12 inches, wing 5.4, tail 6.7, bill 0.58, 

 tarsus 0.59. The eggs (4 to 6) measure .89 x .76 inch. 



These birds are found in Central Australia, and have a wide 

 range across from Bast to West. 



The Red-backed Parrakeet. 



Psephotus hcematonotus. 



South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Queensland. 



Head emerald green; forehead and cheeks bluish-green; back and 

 scapulars greyish-green; upper tail-coverts and breast yellowish-green; 

 bastard-wing, primary coverts, base of outer webs of primaries, bend of 

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

 passing into blue towards the tip, which is blackish, the remainder of the 

 feathers have white tips. Total length 11 inches, wing 5.1, tail 5.7, bill 

 0.55, tarsus 0.51. The eggs (6 to 8) measure .96 x .76 inch. 



This bird is often called the "Grass Parrakeet," as they 

 usually feed on the ground and their prevailing colour is green. 

 When the nesting season is over they often congregate in large 

 flocks. It is common in the inland districts and often seen in 



captivity. 



