THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
button-grass plains are wanting ; do you know anything of the movements 
of this species on the mainland, as it might help me in finding more about it 
over here ? ” 
Mr. E. D. Atkinson’s note in the Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. III., 
reads : “I have often seen Pezoporus formosus , locally known as the ‘ Swamp 
Parrakeet,’ when riding over the plains in the north-west of Tasmania : also 
in the open country on Flinders Island and the Hunter Group in Bass Strait. 
When flushed it flies quickly, taking a zigzag course, and darting to the 
ground again at a short distance. I have never yet seen it perch.” 
Miss Fletcher wrote from Cleveland, Tasmania (Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 79, 
1908) : “ Last autumn (1907) I was indeed delighted to observe the Ground 
Parrakeet ( Pezoporus formosus) on the grassy rises near the lagoon. I believe 
these birds are becoming very rare, and this year I have not seen any. Those 
I watched last year were under the almost leafless briars, and were eating the 
hips that had fallen. On my nearer approach they did not rise, but retreated 
to the cover of another clump of briars, and, when I persisted in following 
them, retired to the seclusion of the outer circle of reeds bordering the lagoon. 
This autumnal season has been a better one for grass seeds, etc., so doubtless 
this accounts for their absence this year.” 
H. Stuart Dove asked in Vol. IX., p. 94 : “ Is anything definite known 
of the movements of the Ground Parrakeet (Pezoporus formosus) (in Tasmania) ? 
When walking through tussocky plains, about 50 miles from here (West 
Devonport), I used to flush them from almost beneath my feet. They would 
fly 40 or 50 yards, then drop again into the herbage. This was always 
about February or March. Never saw them in winter or spring. Where 
do they winter ? Their flight seems very feeble — quite incapable of a long 
journey.” 
North, in the Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. III., p. 174, 1911, gives 
Dr. Holden’s notes from Tasmania : “ Pezoporus formosus is always found in 
the open, in swampy heath lands, or turnip fields. It takes very short flights 
and dodges about on the wing ; when it alights it runs for some distance before 
rising again. It is often flushed by Quail shooters. Mr. E. D. Atkinson, 
while riding, found a nest on the 12th October, 1886, on Mount Cameron plain, 
near Montagu. It was in heathy ground, under a tussock of buttongrass, 
and well concealed ; the earth had been scratched out to a deep cup shape, 
and then lined with dry coarse grass. It contained three beautiful white 
rounded eggs, quite fresh. The bird was flushed off and almost underneath 
the horse’s feet. Seven more birds were flushed, but no other nest found. 
Mr. Atkinson says these birds generally run from the nest a short distance 
before rising when they are disturbed. I hunted over the big plain at Montagu 
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