THE GROUND PARRAKEET. 
This most lovely bird is found in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, and although 
very plentiful in places which it frequents, it is a very local bird, haunting one spot in 
hundreds, and then becoming invisible for a range of many miles. In the open country it 
lives in little companies like the preceding species, and is even more familiar, being exceedingly 
inquisitive, as is the nature of all the Parrot tribe. Plentiful as it is, there are few birds which 
are likely to suffer more from the gun, as its plumage is so magnificent and its form so elegant 
that it is in great request among the dealers, who are always sure of a sale when the beautiful 
skin is properly stuffed and put into a glass case. 
The wings of the Rose-hill Parrakeet are not very powerful, and do not seem capable of 
enduring a journey of very great extent, for the bird always takes opportunities of settling as 
often as it can do so, and then after running along the ground for awhile, starts afresh. The 
flight is composed of a succession of undulations. The voice of this species is not so harsh as 
ROSE-HELL PARRAKEET .— Platycercus eximius. 
that of many Parrots, being a pleasing and not very loud, whistle, which is often uttered. As 
the bird is a hardy one, and can bear confinement well, it is coming much into fashion as an 
inhabitant of the aviary, and will probably be brought away in great numbers. The natural 
food of the Rose-hill Parrakeet consists of seeds, a diet which it varies by eating many 
kinds of insects, a food which every Australian bird can have in the greatest variety, and 
without the slightest fear of stint. 
Although not endowed with the glowing hues of the preceding species, the Geouhd 
Pabeakeet is a remarkably pretty and interesting bird. 
This species derives its name from its ground-loving habits. Mr. Gould says that it never 
perches on trees; but the author of “Bush Wanderings in Australia” remarks that he 
has seen it perching upon the tea-tree scrub. From its peculiarly pheasant-like shape and 
habits, it is sometimes called the pheasant by the colonists. It is a very common bird, and is 
found spread over the whole of Southern Australia and Van Diemen’s Land. 
It is remarkable that this bird, which has much of the outline of the pheasant, should 
Vol. n. — 48. 
