PXjATB xliv. 



GENUS PEZOPORUS. 



THIS is a purely terrestrial bird, of which only two species are known — if the slightly aberrant variety 

 Geopsittocus occidental-is is included — otherwise there is but one species, and that is peculiar to the 

 temperate zone of Australasia. It does not talk, but has some habits that ally it to the Quail. 



PEZOPORUS FORMOSUS. {Lath.) 



GBOVND PAP PA KEET. Genus: Pezoporus. 



THE Ground, or Swamp Parrakeet is very generally to be met with all over the eastern and southern 

 continent, also in Bass' Straits and Tasmania. On Flinder's Island, Gould found it breeding on the grassy 

 plains. The species is stationary and is never seen to perch among trees, nor even to take refuge on their 

 branches, from which fact we may conclude that the power of perching has not been given it. The formation of 

 the foot adds to this supposition, as it is intended for running rather than grasping. It runs very rapidly over 

 the ground, without the characteristic waddle of its congeners, and when flushed will rise into the air and flv 

 with a swift zig-zag flight for about one hundred yards, when it pitches again and runs into seclusion. The tail 

 assumes a forked appearance in flight. 



This is a veritable recluse, and will never discover itself unless accident reveals it. In this inclination 

 nature has helped the Ground Parrot by giving it a coat that matches in colour the grasses among which it feeds. 

 If danger is near it crouches close to the earth, or runs stealthily through the grasses, and so evades man's eye ; 

 but if a pointer is of the company, then the Ground Parrot is doomed, for it emits so strong an odour that 

 pointers will stand to it like any other game. It is excellent eating, being scarcely surpassed by the quail or 

 snipe. 



Unlike every other Australian Parrot, this one makes his nest upon the ground, choosing the shelter of a 

 tussock of grass. The nest is hollowed out and lined with soft fine grass. There are laid from two to five or six 

 round white eggs. We are indebted to Mr. E. S. Atkinson for the following: "Three eggs in nest, which was 

 deeply hollowed out of the ground under a button-grass tussock, evenly lined with fine grass, and most carefully 

 concealed. Had not the bird flown from under my horse (who 'nearly put his foot in it'), I should certainly 

 not have found this prize." The nest was taken about the beginning of October. These Parrots were at one 

 time plentiful in and about Carum Carum Swamp, Victoria, but when that morass was reclaimed and 

 civilisation stepped in, they retreated to more distant solitudes. 



Another variety of this bird is said to inhabit the North-west, and to be nocturnal in its habits. 



As the Pezoporus form ox us is unique in its habits among Parrots, so it is in appearance. It is a 

 plump, graceful bird, quite horizontal in pose, and standing on slim, long legs, adapted for running. Its coat is 

 entirely dark grass green, all the feathers of the lower part of the breast, abdomen, and tail barred in the centre 

 with alternate yellow and black ; tertiaries and spurious wing feathers, green on their outer web, and dark 

 brown on their inner, each of the latter with a triangular spot of pale yellow near the base ; back of head and 

 neck, green, with streaks of black; breast, bronze and verditer green ; touch of brick red on forehead; under 

 surfaces, greenish yellow and black ; upper mandible of beak, long and pointed ; under, very short, black at 

 base, tipped with horn colour; tarsi, yellowish brown; irides, black, with ring of yellowish brown. (Gould.) 



Length : About thirteen inches. 



