CRIMSON PARROT. 
ranges of South Gippsland, and in similar country throughout the coastal 
districts of New South Wales. It also frequents open forest country, as 
well as low undergrowth, and passes a portion of its time on the ground in 
search of seeds of various grasses and small plants, which, with small berries, 
constitute its usual food. During March and April, when the young birds 
of the previous season flock together, they do considerable damage in orchards 
and grain fields, feasting upon the fruit and grain crops. . . . Although as a rule 
Pennant’s Parrakeet resorts to the higher Eucalypti on the mountain ranges, 
in autumn especially it passes its time in small flocks on the ground, principally 
consisting of young birds. . . . This species was much more numerous in 
the Strzelecki Ranges than the Blue Mountains, although they are equally 
plentiful in the coastal ranges of the Illawarra District.” 
The succeeding notes refer to the form P. e. victories . In the same place, 
Mr. G. A. Heartland wrote : “ Dense forests, tall timber in hilly country, and 
rocky gorges are the usual haunts of Platycercus elegans, where it lives on 
grass seed, but of late years it has become very troublesome to the orchardists 
near the Dandenong Ranges, where they play havoc amongst the apples, pears 
and quinces. When fully matured the sexes are alike in plumage, but whilst 
the male develops his crimson livery before two years old, the female takes 
much longer. It frequently happens that both may be found breeding whilst 
in the green plumage of the immature bird, but it is an ordinary occurrence 
for a crimson male to be found breeding with a green female.” Dr. W. 
Macgillivray added : “ Platycercus elegans developed a taste for the berries of the 
Box Thorn, and comes into the town to feed upon them when they are ripe 
in the autumn. The immature birds of this species keep very much to them- 
selves, being seldom seen in company with birds in full adult plumage, possibly 
because the latter knowing their bright colours expose them to danger are 
more wary, or that the young birds, tranquil in the assurance of youth and the 
protection that a dark green suit affords, are inclined to be more venturesome.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby has written me: “In South Australia this bird is 
fairly common in the South East at Millicent, where in 1888 I saw a good 
number. I think the great width of Mallee country that used to be called 
the 90 Mile Desert prevents this bird comnig further West. In the Meadows 
district an intermediate form between this species and P. adelaidce is often seen, 
but I have only handled one or two skins, perhaps they are a cross between 
the two.” 
H. E. Hill, writing in the Emu, Vol. II., p. 165, 1903, on the birds of 
Geelong and the Otway Districts, stated: “Very common in most parts of the 
district. At Queen’s Park they are always one or two small flocks of Red 
Lories in immature plumage, but, curiously enough, I have never seen an 
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