152 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
6. Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella Shaw 
pul-chel'-la — L., pulchellus, pretty. 
Distribution . — Southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 
and South Australia. 
Notes.— Also called Beautiful Grass-parrot, Chestnut-shouldered 
Grass-parrot, and Chestnut-winged Grass-parrot. Usually in pairs or 
small flocks, frequenting the grass-lands bordering open forest country. 
It spends most of its time on the ground searching for the seeds of grasses 
and herbaceous plants, which constitute its food. When flushed it flies 
swiftly to the nearest timber, uttering a feeble call-note. This species is 
extremely rare, probably verging on extinction. The female is very like 
the female Scarlet-chested Parrot. 
Nest . — In a hollow limb or hole in a tree, occasionally in a stump or 
log lying on the ground. 
Eggs. — Four or five, pure white. Breeding-season: August to 
December. 
7. Scarlet-chested Parrot Neophema Splendida Gould — 7 A. Female 
splen -did-a — L., splendidus, bright. 
Distribution. — New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and 
Western Australia. 
Notes. — Also called Splendid Grass-parrot and Orange-throated 
Grass-parrot. Rarely recorded, then only as isolated pairs. It appears 
to inhabit dry inland areas interspersed with patches of low scrub, often 
far from water. In habits it is said to resemble the other species of this 
genus. Food : seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants. 
Nest . — In a hole in a tree or hollow limb. 
Eggs. — Four, pure white and almost lustreless. Breeding-season: 
September is the only month recorded. 
8. Blue-browed Lorilet Opopsitta coxeni Gould 
Qp-op-sitt' -a — error in spelling = Cyclopsitta — Gk, cyclopSj round-faced; 
Gk, psitie, parrot: coxeni— Charles Coxen of Queensland, ornithologist, 
and brother-in-law of John Gould. 
Distribution. — South-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New 
South Wales. 
Notes.— Also called Red-faced Lorilet and Fig Parrot. Usually in 
small flocks, inhabiting the brushes and big scrubs. Very little is known 
of its habits, except that it frequents the tall fruit-bearing trees, chiefly the 
different species of ficus. It is exceptionally quiet and difficult to observe. 
Food: native fruits and berries. 
Nest . — In a hollow stump. 
Eggs. — Two, pure white, and with a slight lustre on the shell 
(Kinghorn). 
