PLATE XLII. 



GENUS EUPHEMA. (Wagler.) 



THE seven species into which this genus is subdivided are exclusively Australian, and, so far, appear to be 

 confined to the temperate zone, on the mainland, between the Wide Bay District of Queensland and 

 Western Australia. Within this area they are abundantly distributed, and two of them — Euphema 

 chrysostoma and Euphema aurantia — being of migratory tendencies, pass over to the adjacent island of 

 Tasmania. They do not possess any imitative powers, but their beautiful plumage fully compensates for the 

 lack of this attractive quality. They have long and strong tarsi adapted to running swiftly over the ground, 

 and the flight is powerful and well sustained. 



EUPHEMA AURANTIA. (Gould.) 



ORANGE-BELLIED GRASS PARRAKEET. Genus: Euphema. 



THE bird under present notice, though sufficiently like its congener, Euphema elegans, to be mistaken for a 

 variety of the same species, is by no means so beautiful, as it lacks in a great degree the conspicuous blue 

 forehead ; while the upper surfaces are green instead of olive brown, and there is a well-defined patch of 

 orange between the thighs — whence the name aurantia. 



Like the Blue-Banded, it is migratory in its habits, spending its summers in Tasmania and the islands 

 in Bass' Straits, and is seldom met with on the mainland, except during winter, and then only in a few favoured 

 localities, such as Port Adelaide and Holdfast Bay. In New South Wales it is seldom met with, and never 

 penetrates further north than to the Richmond District, which touches the south coast border of Queensland. 

 Gould's personal experiences of this little bird are interesting enough to be transcribed verbatim : " I observed it 

 sparingly dispersed in the neighbourhood of Hobart Town and New Norfolk, but found it in far greater abundance 

 on the Actaeon Islands, at the entrance of D'Entrecasteaux Channel. These small and uninhabited islands are 

 covered with grasses and scrub, intermingled with a species of Barilla, nearly allied to Atriplex halimus (a Salt 

 bush) ; and almost the only land bird that enlivens these solitary spots is the present beautiful Parrakeet. I 

 frequently flushed small flocks from among the grass, when they almost immediately alighted upon the Barilla 

 bushes around me, their sparkling orange bellies forming a striking contrast with the green of the other parts of 

 their plumage and the silvery foliage of the plant upon which they rested. I made many unsuccessful attempts 

 to discover their breeding-places ; as, however, these islands are destitute of large trees, I am induced to believe 

 that they lay eggs in holes on the ground, or among the stones on the shore. On visiting South Australia in 

 winter, I there found it equally abundant on the flat marshy grounds bordering the coast, especially between the 

 Port of Adelaide and Holdfast Bay." 



It is more than likely that these birds go elsewhere to breed, as they are strong-winged and can make 

 long flights without taking rest. Incubation lasts from September to January, but no authentic knowledge is to 

 hand as to the number of eggs they lay. Probably in this respect, as in most others, they adhere to the habits of 

 other Euphema. The egg is white, with a very fine textured shell ; length, ten lines and three-quarters ; breadth, 

 nine lines. 



The note uttered by the Aurantia is a great contrast to the musical whistle of Euphema elegans ; it 

 resembles more than anything else a sharp snapping sound. 



