174 
POPULAR HISTORY OF BIUDS. 
resting-places. He observes^ that however many there may 
be, they constantly fly in pairs, as do the macaws. The little 
noisy parrakeets indiscriminately associate in flocks, and fly 
from tree to tree with great rapidity. 
"We shall confine ourselves chiefly to a notice of the habits 
of a few of the many finely-plumaged species found on the 
continent of Australia, in the landscape of which they form 
by no means an unimportant feature. * 
South America and Australia are the chief seats of the 
numerous species of this family. Mr. Gould, who has de- 
scribed and figured all the Australian species, says that they 
abound in individuals. The following graphic sketch is 
derived from his introduction : — " Immense flocks of Avhite 
Cockatoos are sometimes seen perched among the green 
foliage of the 'Eucalypti ; the brilliant scarlet breasts of the 
Rose-bills blaze forth from the yellow-flowering Acacice ; 
the Trichoglossi, or honey-eating parrakeets, enliven the 
flowering branches of the larger Eucalypti with their beauty 
and their lively actions ; the little grass-parrakeets rise from 
the plains of the interior, and render these solitary spots a 
world of animation; nay, the very towns, particularly Ho- 
bart Town and Adelaide, are constantly visited by flights of 
this beautiful tribe of birds, which traverse the streets with 
