94 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



sions in mm. : — Length, 355; bill, 25; wing, 255; tail, 131; tarsus, 

 21. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nest. — A hollow within a tree, generally near water. 



Eggs. — Clutch four or five; roundish oval in shape; texture of 

 shell fairly fine; surface slightly glossy; colour pure white. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. of odd examples : — (1) 34 x 25, (2) 35 x 25.5, (3) 35 

 X 25.25. 



Breeding Season. — July to February or later. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania (accidental) and Austra- 

 lia in general. 



Observations. — On the 5th May, 1908, Mr. J. Adams, of the 

 Lower Piper, shot two Galahs, which turned out to be a pair, at 

 Jerusalem Plains. Both specimens were forwarded to the Laun- 

 ceston Museum, but it was found that only one was in a fit con- 

 dition to be set up, and it is now in the Tasmanian ornithological 

 section. 



A few days after securing the above birds another of the same 

 species was observed by Mr. Adams in the farmyard with his 

 poultry. 



FAMILY-PSITTACID/E (6 species). 



Sub-Family — Platycercinae. 



GEBEN OE YELLOW-BELLIED PAEEAKEET 



{Platycercus flaviventris, Temm.) 



Male. — Forehead crimson; cheeks blue; crown of the head, 

 back, and sides of the neck greenish-yellow, varying in intensity 

 among fully adult birds from different localities; back and shoul- 

 ders dark olive, approaching black in some individuals, each 

 feather edged with green; upper tail coverts dark green, tipped 

 with pale yellow; middle of wing blue, varying in intensity; pri- 

 maries blue on external edges for basal half,»blackish-brown for 

 remainder; two central tail feathers green, remainder dark blue 

 for two-thirds and light blue for the remaining third ; whole of 

 under surface jonquil-yellow ; irides dark brown ; bill horn coloured ; 

 legs and feet black. Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 335; bill, 18; 

 wing, 183; tail, 188; tarsus, 19. 



Female. — Slightly less in bulk than male, mandibles also a little 

 less stout. No variation of moment in plumage. 



Young. — According to Gould, the young of the year are green- 

 ish-olive, with a faint tinge of blue on the cheeks, wings, and outer 

 tail feathers, and a faint indication of the red mark on the fore- 

 head. 



Nestling. — When first hatched they are covered with long white 

 down and present the appearance of- round balls of white cotton 

 wool (Gould). 



