TRICHOGLOSSUS CHLOROLEPLDOTUS. {Kuhl). 



S CALY-BBEASTED LOBIKEET. Genus: Trichoglossus. 



THIS rather remarkable species inhabits the whole of the eastern and south-eastern portion of the Continent, 

 but it is not so numerous, nor so generally distributed, as others. The brushes near the coast, which are 

 diversified here and there by enormous gum trees, are its favourite locality ; there it gathers such 

 quantities of honey from the freshly-opened gum blossoms that a large teaspoonful of honey may be collected 

 from a newly-shot specimen when it is suspended. [Gould.) 



Like others of the family, the Scaly-Breasted makes its nest in the highest eucalypts, and lays two eggs 

 during the breeding season, which extends from September to January ; and, like the rest, it is a very noisy bird. 

 What with their shrill cries of delight, and their piercing ones of anger when they quarrel together over a honey- 

 cup, a flock will keep up such a deafening roar that a gun may be fired among them without causing more than a 

 temporary disturbance : they are back again at their absorbing pursuit before very long, creeping and twining 

 along branches, or hanging to the blossoms in a way most charming. 



As a genus, these birds asssociate very happily together, and the different varieties may be seen at sunrise 

 in the morning wending their way in immense flocks across the sky till they come to the eucalyptus blossoms, when 

 they make a rapid circular sweep and settle in thousands about the flower heads, as many as four of one species 

 being found on one branch. 



The sexes are not to be outwardly distinguished from each other. 



All the upper surfaces and tail are rich grass green, a few feathers at the back of the neck a bright 

 yellow fringed with vivid green, causing a lovely scale-like effect in the waving lines of yellow or green ; under 

 wing coverts, bright red ; base of primaries and secondaries, faded red ; tertiaries, black ; under tail coverts, bright 

 pale green ; under tail feathers, olivaceous yellow ; bill, blood red, inclining to yellow at the tip ; irides, in some 

 scarlet with a buff ring round the pupil, in others yellow ; feet, dark grey. ( Gould.) 



Habitats : Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and Clarence 

 River Districts (New South Wales), Interior, A 7 ictoria, and South Australia. (Bamsay.) 



TRICHOGLOSSUS CONCINNUS. (Shaw.) 



MUSK LOBIKEET. Genus : Trichoglossus. 



THE Musk Lorikeet is to be found in the same localities as the previous variety, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus ; 

 but extends its area a little by passing from the mainland across to Tasmania, where it is recognised by the 

 name, " Musk," from the strong odour it emits. It is stationary in its habits on the continent; though there 

 is reason to doubt this quality in the southern portions of Tasmania. It lives among the gum trees, where 

 it finds a never-failing supply of honey, as one species or another is in flower all the year round. 



This Lorikeet is noisier, if possible, than any of its congeners, and keeps up a perpetual din 

 wherever it may be. It is of so confiding a disposition, that it will take up a position on a branch, and refuse to 

 leave on any threat short of violence. Though associated in large flocks, they are apparently mated in 

 pairs, which fly together, and settle side by side when the heat of the sun prompts them to shelter themselves 

 from it. 



