CRIMSON PARROT. 
to be many shades lighter than that of specimens observed in the Mount Lofty 
Ranges. Their notes and habits, as far as we could see, were identical with 
those of birds found further south. They did not appear to be at all plentiful.” 
Regarding the Kangaroo Island form Captain S. A. White has written 
me : “ These birds are numerous on Kangaroo Island, especially so along 
the Cygnet River : they were met with on both our trips through the island 
in small parties often feeding upon the ground and when they rose the old 
birds were like a flash of fire rising into the trees : their food seems principally 
the ends of grasses.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashley also states : “ My first experience of this subspecies 
was at Middle River, Kangaroo Island, in March, 1905. What struck me as 
remarkable was the very large proportion of birds in adult plumage and the 
melanote character of the plumage. I have collected the typical P. elegans at 
the following places: Ballarat, Mt. Dandenong, Gippsland in Victoria, Cooma, 
New South Wales, and the Blackall Range in Queensland and of course in 
Millicent district in South Australia, and in none of these did I find them 
(adults) as numerous as was the case at Middle River, Kangaroo Island. It 
suggests that they attain maturity earlier in the latter locality than else- 
where, but a good deal more data is required before any certainty can 
be obtained.” 
It will be gathered that we have little real knowledge of the life history 
of this common species, and this note of Ashby’s leads to a nice speculation as 
to the rapidity with which the species acquires its mature plumage in different 
localities. It is probable that the Kangaroo Island form does mature more 
quickly than the mainland form and it also probable that the Adelaide form 
may be slow in achieving the full plumage, but as Ashby rightly states : “ data 
is required,” and I have not met with any. If thousands are annually killed 
for destructive qualities, some data might be secured from examination of 
the bodies, which would be valuable as to the relationship of adults to 
immatures in numbers, etc., etc. 
The first subspecies of this variable species was separated by Gould with 
specific rank and peculiarly enough it has long retained this value, though the 
difference is one of colour shade alone. It is obvious from Gould’s own remarks 
that lie recognised the close alliance and that his specific value was only equal 
to the present rank of subspecies. 
In his Tabular List Austr. Birds, p. 34, 1888, Ramsay added: “ Platy- 
cercus pennantii var. nigrescens Ramsay. This northern variety may be 
distinguished by its smaller size, thicker and more robust bill, and the deeper 
tint of crimson in its plumage ; in some a few violet feathers appear on the 
chest ; those on the head, hind neck and back are almost all black, which 
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