GREEN PARROT. 
name. I pointed this out in 1910, but almost immediately afterwards 
recognised that caledonicus must be used, and substituted the correct name in 
my “Reference List” (Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 271, 1912), observing: 
“ Though Gmelin described this bird as from New Caledonia, there is no doubt 
that this identity is absolutely correct and that the bird came from Tasmania, 
its only habitat.” 
I have indicated above the probable source of the specimen actually 
described by Latham. 
Gould’s notes are here quoted as they give the first account and are rather 
more full than usual : “ The Yellow-bellied Parrakeet is dispersed over all 
parts of Tasmania and the islands in Bass’s Straits ; but it is not confined to 
particular localities like the Platycercus eximius, with which it sometimes 
associates. It frequents every variety of situation, from the low-crowned 
hills and gullies in the depths of the forest to the open, cleared land and gardens 
of the settlers. It runs over the ground with great facility, and when observed 
in small flocks searching for seeds among the tall grass, few birds are seen to 
greater advantage. I found this species very abundant on the banks of the 
Tamar, and in one instance I saw hundreds congregated at a barn-door among 
the straw of some recently thrashed corn, precisely after the manner of Pigeons 
and Sparrows in England. The sexes during the first year are not to be dis- 
tinguished from each other, but when fully adult, the female is smaller in size 
and less brilliantly coloured than the male. Besides grass-seeds, the flowers of 
the Eucalypti with insects and their larvae constitute a considerable portion of 
its food, and it may be often seen very busily engaged about the branches 
loaded with flowers in the depths of the forest far away from any cleared lands. 
If we take into consideration the kind of food upon which this bird subsists, 
we might naturally conclude that its flesh would be delicate, tender, and well- 
flavoured. When I visited Tasmania it was commonly eaten by the settlers, 
and it was not long after my arrival before I tested its goodness, when I foiled 
it so excellent that I partook of it whenever an opportunity for so doing 
presented itself. . . . When the young are first hatched they are covered with 
long, white down, and present an appearance not very dissimilar to that of a 
round ball of white cotton wool.” 
Mr. H. S. Dove has written me : “A pair of these Parrakeets built in the 
hole of a tree (dead gum) about thirty feet from the ground at Table Cape, 
North West Tasmania. The male would sit outside on a branch while his mate 
was sitting in the hole, and frequently called to her with a sweet low double 
note.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby states : “I have found this bird numerous on Mount 
Wellington near Hobart, and also at Scamander in North East Tasmania. 
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