THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Immature. Distinguished by the absence of the blue frontal band at the base of the 
forehead. 
Nest. A crevice in a rock. 
Eggs. Clutch four to five. White. 24 to 26 mm. by 19-20. 
Breeding-season. September to December. 
This beautiful little species with its peculiar habits was described by Gould 
from West Australia, and later he wrote : “I have received specimens of this 
bird from Port Lincoln, in South Australia, but its principal habitat appears 
to be the western coast, where it occurs in great numbers on Rottnest and other 
islands near Swan River : * Here,’ says Gilbert, ‘ it breeds in the holes of the 
most precipitous cliffs, choosing in preference those facing the water, and 
most difficult of access ; and hence it required no slight degree of exertion to 
procure examples of the eggs, which, according to the testimony of the natives, 
are white, and seven or eight in number. Its flight is extremely rapid, and 
at times it mounts to a great height in the air.’” 
Mr. Tom Carter has noted : “ This species appears to be confined to the 
south-west coast. They used to breed rather commonly under the great 
slabs of rock thrown up by heavy storms above ordinary high-water mark 
on the beach near the Margaret River, but were scarce there in 1903. Some 
ten years ago they were not uncommon about Albany, and a pair or two of 
them could often be seen on the edge of the beach of the large Princess 
Royal Harbour, but of late years I have been unable to find any about there. 
Probably domestic cats have killed them.” 
Captain S. A. White writes : “ These birds were very numerous once 
upon Lefevre Peninsula, South Australia, and I have seen large flocks where 
the Outer Harbour is now situated, but they have long since disappeared 
from that locality. I found them plentiful on the low sandy island upon 
which Troubridge Lighthouse is situated. They were in large parties feeding 
upon a small grass seed, which was then ripe : they would rise quickly and 
with erratic flight fly round a few times and then drop more than alight 
among the bushes. An odd bird or two was met with upon the islands 
visited in Spencer’s Gulf during the same trip : their main breeding-ground 
is on an island of the Sir Joseph Banks Group in Spencer’s Gulf. I have seen 
these birds’ nesting -place on Goat Island in Coffin’s Bay, west coast of S.A. 
They lay their three or four white eggs on the bare decomposed rock in small 
holes.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor’s notes confirm this : “ These parrots are the most sombre 
in appearance of all the Neophema family, their dull olive-green coats being 
very inconspicuous as they feed on the green flats about the swampy mouths 
of salt creeks and such like places. I have seen them at the mouth of the 
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