96 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



* 

 hollow spouted limb, at a varying distance from the ground, in 



moderately heavily timbered country. 



Eggs. — Clutch six to nine; oval to round oval in shape; texture 

 fine as a rule ; surface slightly glossy ; colour pure white. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. of a clutch :— (1) 27 x 2-2, (2) 26 x 22, (3) 26 x 21, (4) 

 26.5 X 21.5, (5) 27 x 22, (6) 26 x 21. 



Breeding Season. — October to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, New South Wales, Vic- 

 toria, South Australia, and South Queensland. 



Observations. — The irregular manner in which the Eosella is 

 distributed in Tasmania is somewhat puzzling. There are portions 

 of districts to which it is either an entire stranger or only an occa- 

 sional visitor whose topographical features do not in any appre- 

 ciable manner differ from those where the bird is most plentiful. 

 However, taking everything into consideration, this species may be 

 considered plentiful. 



As a rule lightly timbered and open tracts are resorted to, 

 where it frequently may be seen in large flocks. On account 

 of the quantity of freshly sown grain it steals in agricultural dis- 

 tricts, it is much disliked by farmers, and its ranks thinned by 

 means of poison and shot-guns. In disposition it is fearless, and 

 does not hesitate to come round bush habitations in search of food. 



As is doubtless well known, the Eosella was first called the 

 Eosehill Parrakeet, on account of it having first been found there. 

 As a cage-bird it is a great favourite, both on account of its brilliant 

 plumage and its tractability. In addition to these qualities, it is 

 hardy and lives to a great age. 



BLUE-WINGED GEASS-PAREAKEET 

 (Neophcma venusta, Temm.) 



Male. — " A conspicuous bar of deep indigo blue across the fore- 

 head, bordered above by a narrow edging of light metallic blue ; 

 lores and a stripe above and behind the eye ridi yellow; crown of 

 the head, back, rump, upper tail coverts, throat, chest, and flanks 

 brownish ohve-green ; shoulders and wing coverts deep blue ; pri- 

 maries black, the outer edges of the first three or four slightly 

 tinged with green; centre of the abdomen and under tail coverts 

 yellow; four middle tail feathers greenish-blue, the basal portions 

 of the remainder beautifully blue on their outer edges, and largely 

 tipped with fine yellow; bill and feet brown " (Gould). Dimensions 

 in mm. : — Length, 220; bill, 13.5; wing, 112; tail, 181 ; tarsus, 15. 



(The above description by Gould tallies precisely with Tas- 

 manian examples examined. The dimensions, however, are the 

 average of a number of specimens.) 



Female. — Similar in plumage to male. 



Young. — According to Mr. E. Hall's correspondent, Mr. 

 Graham, published in the Victorian Naturalist (1898), the birds 



