THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
developed nomadic tendencies, remaining in a given area for only a few months 
at a time, and then disappearing.” 
From the Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat,, No. 1, Vol. III., I extract the following : 
Mi. K. H. Bennett s notes read : The habitat of Platycercus flaveolus in 
New South W ales is the belt or fringe of large Gum trees bordering the Lachlan. 
Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers, and so exclusively is it found where the 
Eucalyptus flourishes, that it is never met with beyond their range. Usually 
it occurs in pairs, or in small flocks of five or six individuals, probably the 
parents and brood of the year. It breeds during the months of September 
and October, and the eggs, four in number, are deposited in some hollow 
branch. The young of the year have the green plumage of Platycercus pemiantii. 
On this point I can speak with confidence, having reared them from the nest.” 
Mr. F. A. Shelley adds : “ These birds have a peculiar musty odour, which 
extends to their nesting places, and still remains when their bodies are cooked 
and prepared for the table.” Mr. Percy Pier states : “ The variation in 
plumage is very great, so much so that at times it is difficult to distinguish 
them from the Adelaide Parrakeet.” Mr. G. A. Keartland’s observations 
are interesting : “ Platycercus flaveolus is known under such names as ‘ Swamp 
Lory,’ ‘ Blam Blam, 5 and ‘ Yellow Rosella.’ These birds are most numerous 
along the course of the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers, or near the swamps 
in the neighbourhood of Swan Hill. Whilst some are particularly high- 
coloured, others are not so. This remark applies to both adults and young. 
In December, 1902, Mr. Frank Williams sent six nestlings from Wagga, and 
some of them were more brightly coloured than adult birds I shot in the same 
district shortly before. Others again were as dull as the young of P. flaviventris , 
but not quite so dark.” 
It will be noticed that here we have apparently a dimorphism in the young 
stage, as has been noticed in the preceding species. It seems that all the 
species are in a state of transition from the green to the coloured stage in that 
they have acquired an adult showy plumage and are now developing such 
from the nest, missing the green immature plumage altogether. We have 
here then a marked case of evolution of plumage change and such is worthy 
of extended study by the field-ornithologists of Australia. In years to come 
the species will show the mature plumage constantly in the nestling, the original 
green plumage being entirely eliminated. At the present time all the changes 
appear to be in progress in every species and it is now that study should be 
undertaken. 
No subspecies were recognised until in the “ Reference List ” I distinguished 
Platycercus flaveolus innominatus subsp. n. “ Differs from P. /. flaveolus in 
its paler coloration, especially noticeable on the head and rump, altogether 
320 
