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igrREEN GROUND fgARROT. 



Psittacus pezojphorus. 



Synonym: Pezojphorus formosus, Gld. German: Der Erdsittich. 



French: La Perruche terrestre, ou ingambee. 



THE Ground Parrots form a group quite sui generis, and are very- 

 little known out of their native country., or rather countries, for 

 they occur in New Zealand, as well as in Australia and Tasmania. 



In this country we have never seen a living example of any of the 

 numerous species composing the genus, and no mention of any of them 

 is made in Dr. Russ's comprehensive Handbook; which is the more to 

 be wondered at, that in those regions where they are found, they are 

 far from uncommon, but being partially nocturnal in their habits, and 

 moreover extremely shy, they are not so frequently seen as many of 

 their really less abundant congeners. 



The species under consideration is of frequent occurrence in Tas- 

 mania, and is also found in the southern parts of Australia: it is about 

 the size of the Cockatiel, and is of a yellowish green colour, spotted 

 and undulated with black : the tail is long and slender, the two central 

 feathers are green marked with transverse bands of yellow, an arrange- 

 ment which is reversed in the remaining tail feathers, which are yellow 

 barred with green : just above the nostrils is a narrow band, or frontlet 

 of deep scarlet: the legs are long and of an ash colour. 



It is said to make no nest, but to lay two white eggs on the bare 

 ground, under the shelter of some log, or rock: a statement which we 

 are unable to verify, or disprove from personal knowledge, but which 

 appears, nevertheless, to be its usual custom. 



It is evident from the configuration of the bird, that its habits are 

 chiefly terrestrial, and it is said not to perch in trees, and seldom to 

 take to flight, but, even when pressed by dogs and hunters, to prefer 

 trusting to its strong legs, with which it] runs very swiftly through 

 the grass and underwood. 



