EUPHEMA AURANTIA, Gould. 
Orange-bellied Grass-Parrakeet. 
Euphema aurantia, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Nov. 10, 1840. 
Although the present bird is not so elegant in form, nor graeed with so brilliant a frontal band as several 
others of the group, it has received an ample compensation in the rich orange mark that adorns the under 
surface, a character by which it may be distinguished from every other known species. Like the Euphema 
chrysostoma, it is a summer visitant to Van Diemen’s Land, and they may sometimes be found associating 
together ; still I have obtained specimens in localities where I believe the other is never seen. I observed it 
sparingly dispersed in the neighbourhood of Hobart Town and New Norfolk, but found it in far greater 
abundance on the Acteeon Islands, at the entrance of D’Entrecasteaux Channel. These small islands are 
covered with grasses and scrub, intermingled with a quantity of a species of Barilla, nearly allied to 
Atriplex halimus ; and almost the only land-bird that enlivens these solitary spots is the present beautiful 
Parrakeet : I frequently flushed small flocks of them from among the grass, when they almost immediately 
alighted on the barilla bushes around me, their sparkling orange bellies forming a striking contrast with 
the green of the other parts of their plumage and the silvery foliage of the plant upon which they rested. I 
made many attempts to discover their breeding places, but always unsuccessfully ; as however these islands 
are destitute of large trees, I am induced to believe that they lay their eggs in holes on the ground, or 
among the stones on the shore. When I thoroughly disturbed them they flew off to the neighbouring 
islands, or to the main land, uttering a singular snapping note, very unlike that of their associates, the 
Euphema chrysostoma. On visiting South Australia in winter, I there found it equally abundant on the flat, 
marshy grounds bordering the coast, especially between the Port of Adelaide and Holdfast Bay. Specimens 
collected in winter and summer, and in localities distant from each other, present no difference whatever in 
their plumage. 
It may be a casual visitor to New South Wales and Swan River, but I have not yet seen it in any 
collections from those parts of Australia. 
Frontal band blue, margined before and behind with a very faint line of greenish blue ; crown of the 
head and all the upper surface deep grass-green ; shoulders, many of the secondaries, and outer edges of 
the primaries deep indigo-blue ; lores, cheeks and breast yellowish green, passing into greenish yellow on 
the abdomen and under tail-coverts, the centre of the abdomen being ornamented with a large spot of 
rich orange ; two centre tail-feathers green ; the next on each side blackish brown on the inner, and green 
on the outer webs ; the remainder blackish brown on their inner, and green on their outer webs, and 
largely tipped with bright yellow ; irides very dark brown ; bill dark brown, becoming lighter on the under 
side; legs and feet dull brown. 
The female possesses the orange spot in common with the male, although, in her case, it is neither so 
extensive nor so brilliant. 
The figures represent a male and a female, on a branch of the Barilla plant, of the natural size. 
