BLUE- WINGED PARROT. 
preparing hole by throwing overboard every particle of charcoal and charred 
wood from bottom and sides of hole. After the coarser matter was removed, 
the fine, dry decayed matter was carefully scraped from every hole and 
crevice around the inside and allowed to fall to the bottom of hole. This 
work continued until 22nd October. I visited it each day and always found a 
bird at work, but whether male or female, as you ask, I cannot say — perhaps 
both, and it is a question for further research. From 22nd to 28th October one 
bird sat continually, and I got alarmed lest the eggs should be laid during this 
period, for although I visited it often five times during each day, and remained 
watching till after dark, during these six days I did not find the bird from the nest. 
However, on the 28th, the bird had flown and left one egg. A second was laid 
on 30th October, and from then until 19th November I had no opportunity of 
seeing what was taking place beneath the sitter, as it could not be persuaded 
to leave the nest ; rough measures would not do. On this 19th day, broken 
eggshells pointed to full incubation of one or more eggs. On 21st and 23rd 
November more shells, while bird still keeping close on nest. On 24th November 
appeared five young birds, with a yellowish downy appearance, and old birds 
keeping close on nest until 27th November after which two young birds opened 
their eyes on 1st December. On 4th December two young birds appeared, 
covered with grey, yellowish about head and tail-feathers, the latter being one inch 
long. By 10th December two had developed green over body and wings, with a 
little grey still remaining about the head. The remaining three, being less 
advanced, were partly coloured green and grey. By 19th December traces of 
grey had disappeared from all. The first young bird left nest on 20th December. 
A second left on the following day, 21st, No. 3 left on the 22nd. No. 4 and 
5 left on the 23rd. Towards the end of January, and occasionally as late 
as the middle of February, one may see the adult birds flying from place to place, 
followed closely by young birds, which receive their food from the parent birds’ 
bills. A field of standing oats is much appreciated by this species ; failing 
this, milk thistle and flat weed (Hypocharis, sp.) seed comes next in favour. 
Immigration to warmer parts begins during March, and continues to mid- April, 
after which no more are seen until the following spring.” 
From the Aust. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1., Vol. III., I quote Mr. G. A. 
Heartland’s notes : “ The Melton District (of Victoria) appears to have some 
special attraction for this species, as during the months of September and 
October hundreds of them may be seen feeding in the grass paddocks or 
perched on the fences. By November they are generally paired, and select the 
hollow branches of fallen timber for their nesting places. By January they 
have disappeared.” Mr. L. Holden, of Circular Head, Tasmania, wrote : “ About 
the end of October, 1886, I saw a pair about some fallen tree trunks in a 
VOL. VI. 
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