i8o BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
breed in holes of some of the larger redgums, either 
there or farther north in the Brisbane Ranges. But 
they are not numerous even at the You Yangs — ^you 
may see half a dozen in a day. 
I should say they were the noisiest birds in the 
bush ; their deplorable voices are not in the least 
in keeping with the glorious white of their bodies 
seen against the green of ancient gums. " Spirits 
of light " the explorer Mitchell called them, and 
rightly ; but their note is as the crackling of thorns 
under the pot. 
GALAH 
Eolophus roseicapillus roseicapillus 
Rose-breasted and grey-backed, the Galah is one 
of the most popular of cage-birds, and it may be that 
the instances of its occurrence in the open about 
Geelong are to be ascribed to escapes from captivity. 
Certain it is that of late years the number of these 
birds brought to Melbourne markets has greatly 
increased, and that many of them do get away from 
their purchasers, and are to be seen flying about 
Melbourne. Further, the appearance of Galahs in 
this district is now no uncommon thing, whereas 
twenty years ago they were practically unknown here. 
Mr. Mulder tells me that a farmer at Lara once 
brought him in three which he had shot there ; and 
in the spring of 191 1 I saw a pair prospecting among 
some dead gums at Jaar-nu-ruc Creek, Torquay, as 
