MANY-COLOURED PARROT. 
Gairdner. Many larvae of a gall-forming insect, with parts of galls, and two kinds 
of seeds, found in stomach.” [Trans. Roy. Soc. South Austr ., Vol. XXXVIII, 
p. 427, 1914) : “ We found these birds thinly dispersed over all the country 
worked ( Oodnadatta to MacDonnell Ranges) : they were often flushed amongst 
the mulga when they were picking up the fallen seeds from this tree. The 
plumage of specimens made is much lighter than our southern bird, and shows 
little or no red on abdomen.” ( Same Journal , Vol. XXXIX,, p. 746, 1915) : 
“Very plentiful in districts where water was found (between Oodnadatta and 
the Musgrave and Everard Ranges). They were often flushed from the ground 
amongst the mulga, where they were searching for the seed of that tree. In 
several cases the male bird had dark brick-red shoulders in place of the bright 
yellow. Probably this is not consistent, consequently I am not classing it 
as a new variety.” 
A number of interesting notes appear in the Austr. Wins. Spec. Gat., No. 1, 
Vol. III., from which I quote the following : “ Mr. K. H. Bennett of Yandembah 
Station, New South Wales, wrote : “ Psephotus multicolor is a very common 
species throughout the timbered back country, to which it is almost exclusively 
confined, being very rarely met with in the belts of timber bordering the rivers 
or in the clumps scattered over the plains. It is mostly seen in flocks of from 
eight or ten individuals, spending the greater part of its time on the ground 
in quest of the seeds of the various herbaceous plants on which it feeds. It is 
by no means shy, and when disturbed merely flies to the low branch of some 
adjacent tree, returning again to the ground immediately one has passed the 
spot. The breeding season is during the months of September and October, 
and the eggs, five in number, are deposited in the hollow trunks or branches, 
usually of a Eucalyptus or Casuarina. The plumage of the sexes of the young, 
when leaving the nest, is similar, both having the red stripe on the wing ; but 
during the first year that of the male changes to yellow, the female retaining 
the red shade. On this point I can speak with confidence, having repeatedly 
reared broods of these birds. This species is entirely independent of water.” 
Dr. W. Macgillivray’s notes are from Broken Hill, South-western New South 
Wales : “ Psephotus multicolor is one of our commonest birds : it is found along 
all the water-courses throughout the district, either in pairs or small lots of six 
or seven after the breeding season ; the parent birds and their young broods. 
They pair off early and commence nesting operations in July, continuing through- 
out the three following months in a late season. I have taken eggs in 
November, the chief breeding months, are, however, September and October. 
A small hollow is usually chosen in one of the Eucalypts which border our creeks, 
and the eggs laid on the bare wood or earthy matter natural to the hollow, at 
a distance of one or two feet from the entrance. The height from the ground 
VOL. VI. 
405 
