62 Personal Observations in the 



in f^roups of tlirce or four, disturb the quiet of the night 

 with their loud and shrill voices. 



Tlie order of llassores is here represented by several 

 varieties of quail. '^llie predominating species ( Coturnix 

 pectoralis), frequents the high grassy ground near the banks 

 of the creeks. 



In September pigeons begin to arrive from the northern 

 countries at our more grassy and congenial plains. 



The absence of the woodpeckers in Australia is rather 

 remarkable, as they arc universally distributed over the whole 

 world, Polynesia exceptcd. 



The family psittaci, (order incessores), are not very fre- 

 quently seen during the winter months, if we except two 

 varieties of parrot, the blue mountain ( Trichoglossus Swain- 

 soniiy and Trichof/hssus j>orphyrocej)kalus), who are observed 

 in the box trees, which, at the season alluded to, are beginning 

 to blossom. 



Cockatoo. — At the commencement of the sowing season 

 the white cockatoos, ( Cacatua galerita), concentrate in large 

 flocks in the agricultural districts, and cause much annoyance 

 to the farmers. 



The gang gang cockatoo, or red crowned parrots, ( Calloce- 

 pJialon galeatum), evince the most extraordinary attachment to 

 each other, and which I have repeatedly liad occasion to remark. 

 If one of a group of these birds be shot, the wounded bird, 

 clinging to the tree, cries loudly till dead ; and a number of 

 others," in sympathy for the fate of their unfortunate com- 

 panion, refuse to quit the tree, and may be secured one after 

 another. 



Kinq Parrot — The beautiful king parrot or red lory, 

 {Apromiictus scapulatus), is far from being plentiful at Mount 

 Macedon. It frequents the tops of gigantic eucalyptus, and 

 is a very restless bird, continually flying from tree to tree. 



Cuckoos. — Of the cuckoo I have observed a number 

 of species. These moody birds sit motionless on the lower 

 branches of the eucalyptus, aud observe with lethargic 

 indiftereuce the exciting love affairs of the other inhabitants 



of the forest. n t o i u 



Magpie {Gymnorhina organicum). — in heptember the 



magpie chooses his mate, but invariably has many aspiring 



rivals to contend with. 



Magpie Lark — The magpie lark, {Gralhna Austrahs), takes 



advantage of the contests which arise between other birds, 



especially the white magpie, at the commencement of the 



