THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
length 240 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 145, tail 103, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected 
in West Australia. 
Nest. On the ground, usually in porcupine (Spinifex) grass (Campbell). 
Eggs. Clutch, four or five (Campbell). White (?). 
There is little to record concerning this unique generic form save that it is 
now impossible to add much more, the absolute extinction of the species 
apparently being complete. 
Captain S. A. White has carefully searched South Australia and his 
results can be stated in his own words : “We have bunted for years now 
over the old haunts where they were once found, but cannot find a trace of 
the bird, which makes one think that it is close upon extermination if not 
already exterminated. ’ ’ 
When Gould described the species in 1S61, he had a Western Australian 
specimen concerning which he wrote : “I have had in my possession for 
many years the skin of a Parrakeet, which was sent to me direct from 
Perth, in Western Australia, and which differs, in my opinion, both 
generically and specifically, from every other known species. In general 
appearance, and especially in its colouring, it resembles the Pezoporus 
formosus ; but, on carefully comparing it with that species, some remarkable 
differences are apparent. In Pezoporus the proportions of the head, 
bill, body, wings and tail are evenly balanced, the legs are especially adapted 
for running over the ground, and the claws, particularly that of the 
outer hind toe, are remarkably long ; while, in the bird under consideration, 
the head is disproportionately large, the mandibles short and robust, the 
nostrils high and round, the tarsi and toes short and delicate, and the 
nails unusually diminutive when compared with those of other Parrakeets ; 
to complete the differences seen in this anomalous bird, the wings are 
large and long while the tail is very short. The whole contour of 
Pezoporus is graceful and elegant ; the present bird, on the other hand, is 
short and dumpy, and much reminds me of a diminutive Strigops. ... I 
have considered it advisable to give this bird a generic appellation distinct 
from Pezoporus .” 
Not long afterwards Sclater recorded the receipt of a living specimen 
at the Zoological Gardens of London ( Proc . Zoo!. Soc. (Lond.), 1867, 
p. 891), from Dr. Ferdinand Muller, who wrote: “This peculiar Parrot 
Was presented to me by Mr. Ryan, on whose sheep station, on the Gawler 
Ranges west of Spencer Guff, it was obtained. The most extraordinary 
circumstance connected with this bird is, that it is nocturnal ! It 
lives in the rocky caves of the ranges, and comes out at night to feed.” 
The bird did not live long and in the next volume (p. 158) Murie reported 
496 
