J. F. M. Floyd—The Orange-bellied Grass Parrot 217


of studying the birds and came to certain conclusions regarding them.

These may be incorrect (further observation has proved this, 1935

and 1936) but until more certain information comes to hand they

will do as a working hypothesis.


In all the time I watched these birds (over eighty hours’ hiding in

bushes) I never saw a young one, so concluded that the birds had

not yet nested, although it was nesting time for all the birds we

know.


They were in excellent condition, breeding condition in fact, but

apparently had not bred and were all in adult plumage. Also at times

one would see an odd hen arrive on a tree and in a few minutes fly

down to feed. A little later three more would arrive and perch on a

tree—two cocks and a hen. Some chat would take place between the

hen on the ground and the three on the tree. A few moments later

the odd cock would fly down and feed alongside the lone hen, chattering

in between nibbles at the grass seeds. This incident occurred on many

occasions and it seemed obvious they were choosing their mates.


As they apparently had not nested, it seemed likely that they did

not live in Australia, but came, probably, still from Tasmania and, I

should imagine, from the farthest south it is possible to go, where

the scrub is almost impenetrable. It is cold there, and the grasses

seed about two months later than on the mainland, so I came to the

following conclusion :—■


(N.B.—These sounded fairly reasonable and satisfactory, but I

have since proved they were wrong.)


1. That the Orange-bellied Grass Parrot is still in Tasmania most

of the year.


2. That in our spring season they fly across to the south-east—

which they regard as a trysting place, there to feed on the special

grasses they like, get themselves into breeding condition, choose their

mates, and when the seeds are withered they fly back to Tasmania

and there nest, finding their later grasses seeding about the time the

young would be hatched, which I imagine to be toward the end of

December.


Other facts noticed about them are that they are much more

sociable among themselves than Elegants and Blue wings.



