The voimg ones are urevish ureen. without any of the distinctive marking found in the mature bird. 

 They soon moult, however, and cannot he distinguished from their parents in three or four months from the 

 time of leaving their nests. 



Habitats ; Wide Hay District (Queensland); Richmond and Clarence River Districts (New South "Wales) ; 

 Interior, Victoria, and South Australia. (Mam&ay.) 



EUPHEMA KLEGANS. 



ELEGANT GRASS PA RRA KEET. Genus : Euphema. 



r ril B ESleganl Grass Parrakeel has been rightly named, for, without being brilliant, it is perfect in colouring and 

 proportions. Closely resembling its predecessor, the Blue-Banded Parrakeet, it yet differs from it in the 

 higher accentuation of colours, the fuller development of all its parts — details in which we trace that 



evolution theory which is destined to play an important share in the downfall of conservatism as applied by man 



to all ranks of creation. 



The proper home of the Elegant Grass is W estern Australia, but, being of migratory habits, it is found 

 extensively dispersed all over the continent as far north as Port Darwin; but for some unexplained reason, it 

 does not, like the Blue- Handed, cross the narrow straits to Tasmania. This is the more singular because it appears 

 to prefer the barren sandy coastline, only occasionally going far inland. Gould says of it : " Flocks were 

 constantly rising before nic while travelling the salt marshes, which stretch along the coast from Holdfast Bay 

 to the Port of Adelaide; they were feeding upon the seeds of grasses and various other plants, which were there 

 abundant, in the middle of the day, and when disturbed, they retreated to the thick banksias that grow on the 

 sandy edges in the immediate neighbourhood, and in such numbers that I have seen those trees literally covered 

 with them, intermingled with the Orange-Breasted species {Euphema aurantia), which, however, was far less 

 numerous. When they rise they spread out and display their beautiful yellow tail feathers to the greatest 

 advantage." 



In "Western Australia Gilbert observed that " the Elegant Grass Parrakeet inhabits every variety of 

 situation, but particularly where there is an abundance of grass, the seeds of which are its favourite food ; it may 

 be generally observed in small families, but at Kojenap, where there are several pools, and no water for many 

 miles round, I saw these birds in myriads ; but, although I shot a great many, they were nearly all young birds. 

 Its flight is rapid and even, and frequently at considersble altitudes." 



The breeding season is during September and October ; the nest a hollow in a tree, where are laid from 

 four to seven eggs, white in colour, eleven lines long by nine lines broad. 



Of migratory and gregarious habits, these birds live almost entirely on grass seeds, and require such a 

 quantity of fluid to digest this dry food that they are always found in the neighbourhood of some waterhole or 

 river. 



The Elegant Parrakeet has a gentle disposition, which becomes quite sprightly during the days of his 

 courtship, when he sings and dances before his mate in a fashion that may be very attractive to her, but which to 

 the human beholder is almost ridiculous. 



The sexes differ very little in appearance. The female is neither so bright nor so large as the male. 

 She has less of the blue markings on her head, the golden sheen of the under surfaces is, in her case, washed 

 with a greenish tinge, and the vent feathers pale yellow. 



