INTRODUCTION. 
Ixiii 
flowering branches of the larger Eucalypti with their beauty and their hvely actions ; the Uttle Grass Parrakeets 
frequent the plains of the interior and render these solitary spots a world of animation ; nay, the very towns, 
particularly Hobart Town and Adelaide, are constantly visited by flights of this beautiful tribe of birds, which 
traverse the streets with arrow-like swiftness, and chase each other precisely after the manner the SAvifts are seen 
to do in our own islands. In the public roads of Van Diemen's Land the beautiful Platycerci may be constantly 
seen in small companies, performing precisely the same offices as the Sparrow in England. I have also seen flocks 
of from fifty to a hundred, like tame pigeons, at the barn-doors in the farm-yards of the settlers, to which they 
descend for the refuse grain thrown out with the straw by the threshers. As might naturally be expected, the 
agriculturist is often sadly annoyed by the destruction certain species eff^ect among his newly-sown and ripening- 
corn, particularly where the land has been recently cleared and is adjacent to the brushes. Fifty-five well-defined 
species of this great family are described and figured in the present work. They appear to constitute four great 
groups, each comprising several genera, nearly the whole of which are strictly and peculiarly Australian ; for 
instance, neither Calyptorhynclius, Platycercus, Euphema, Psephotus, Melopsittacus, or Nymphicics have been found in 
any other country ; and whether we consider the elegance of their forms or the beauty of their plumage, they may 
vie with the members of this extensive family from any part of the world. 
Genus Cacatua, Briss. 
Australia, the Molucca and Philippine Islands and New Guinea are the great nurseries of the members of this 
genus. They incubate in holes of trees or in rocks, and lay two eggs. 
361. Cacatua galerita Vol. V. PI. 1. 
There are evidently several varieties or races of this species in Australia, each possessing a modification in the 
form of the bill doubtless given for some specific purpose ; the Van Diemen's Land bird is the largest, and has the 
upper mandible attenuated, while the Port Essington bird is altogether smaller, and has a much more arched bill. 
362. Cacatua Leadbeaterii ............. Vol. V. PI. 2. 
This species ranges over all the southern portions of Austraha between the 20th and 30th degrees of S. latitude. 
I have never seen a specimen from the north, and I believe it does not inhabit that part of the country ; its true 
habitat appears to be the interior, for it is never found near the coast. 
363. Cacatua sanguinea, Gould ..... ....... Vol. V. PL 3. 
This species has been found on the north coast, and was observed by Captain Sturt at the Depdt in Central 
Australia ; we may hence infer that its range extends over all the intermediate country. 
364. Cacatua Eos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. V. PI. 4. 
This fine bird, which is strictly Australian, is distributed over all parts of the interior of the country, and 
is as abundant in the north as it is in the south ; it was also observed by Captain Sturt at the Dep6t. 
The specimens from the north are of a larger size and have the orbits more denuded than those from 
the south. 
Genus Licmetis, Wagl. 
The two species forming the genus Licmetis are not only confined to Austraha, but, so far as we yet know, to 
the southern portions of that continent ; one inhabits the western and the other the eastern part of the country. 
Their singularly formed bill being admirably adapted for procuring their food on the ground, they are more 
terrestrial in their habits than the other members of the family. 
365. Licmetis nasicus . . . . . , . . , . , . . . Vol. V. PL 5" 
366. Licmetis pastinator, Gould. 
Licmetis pastinator, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, Part VIII. p. 175. 
