THE GRASS PARRAKEET. 353 
It is a native of Australia, and may be found in almost all the centra; 
portions of that land, whence it has been imported in such great numbers as 
an inhabitant of our aviaries, that when Dr. Bennett was last in England he 
found that he could purchase the birds at a cheaper rate in England than in 
New South Wales. This graceful little creature derives its name of Grass 
Parrakeet from its fondness for the grass lands, where it may be seen in great 
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WARBLING GRASS PARRAKEET.— (Melopsittacus undulatus.) 
numbers, running amid the thick grass blades, clinging to their stems, or 
feeding on their seeds. It is always an inland bird, being very seldom seen 
between the mountain ranges and the coasts. 
The voice of this bird is quite unlike the rough screeching sounds in which 
Parrots seem to delight, and is a gentle, soft, warbling kind of song, which 
seems to be contained within the body, and is not poured out with that 
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