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Black-tailed Parrakeet. 
Macaws. 
BLACK-TAILED PARRAKEET. 
POLYTELIS MELANURA (Gould). 
Synonyms .-Pateornis melanura and anthopeplus, latter female (Vigors); Barrabandius melanurus (Bonap.); Platycercus 
melanurus (G. R. Gray). „ , ^ 
Trivial Names. —Long-tailed Parrot; Mountain Parrot; Black-tailed Parrot; Murray Parrot; Rock Pebbler. 
Aboriginal Names. —Wou-kun-ga ; Ju-lu-up ; Mor-ro-got. 
Derivation .—MeAas (me/as), black, ovpa (oura), tail. 
Habitat -Western Australia; South Australia; banks of the Lower Murray in Victoria; Murray, Darling, and Lachlan 
country in New South Wales, and possibly penetrating to the southern parts of Queensland. In a line drawn from Melbourne 
to the Victoria River, its habitat would lie between that of P. Barrabandi and P. Alexandra. 
HOUGH very familiar with both this bird and P. Barrabandi (Green Leek), from its habitat 
I have of course had no opportunity of studying the habits of the third bird of the genus the 
P. Alexandra ; I am inclined, however, to think that the parrakeet now described may, from its 
slightly slenderer and more elongated tarsi, be taken as the typical bird of the genus to which it 
belongs. On the Lower Murray it is very abundant in the summer time—or at any rate was in the 
years 1859-60. It is a migratory bird, appearing in the valley of the Lower Murray in the spring 
of the year, and leaving it about May. I first noticed it on the tall gum trees about the flooded land 
of the Euston station. At the same time the trees growing on the edge of Lake Proah, then and 
generally dry, might be said to be perfectly infested with these birds and the Rose-breasted Cockatoo. 
They appeared not in small families of only ten or twelve, as Gilbert, quoted by Gould, remarks having 
found them in Western Australia, but certainly thirty or forty, or sometimes more, together; and yet 
it was quite noticeable that they flew in distinct companies—one company lighting on a tall tree, rifling 
its seed and nectar, and then, on a sudden, almost like the Lorrikeets (trickogZossi), but without the 
horrid screeching of that family, rising and hurrying off to some other domain; then, in a little while, 
another company, with swift and arrowy wing, would fall on the the prey left by the first. Not 
unfrequently they descend to the ground, and walking there with considerable ease, not devoid of 
gracefulness, pick up the fallen seeds and buds of the Eucalypti. But whether walking, flying, climbing, 
or caged as pets, their lengthened and most elegant tail, their well-proportioned body, neck, and wings, 
give them, together with the other members of the genus, a charm and grace not found in any other 
of the Australian Psittacidse. 
Their flight is rapid in the extreme, yet not noisy—-arrowy would be the most appropriate word 
that could be used ; indeed, when they close their wings in entering a tree, their lengthened tails and 
outstretched necks may well enable the imagination to fancy them a flight of gorgeous arrows shot 
by some army of Dryads into a leafy stronghold. Their nests I did not find, though I was told that 
in that part of the Murray they build in hollows high up in tall trees, and lay six or seven eggs. 
They bear confinement well enough, but ought to have a cage considerably larger than that 
required by the Rosellas, or any of the broad-tailed family, or else their charming tails get very dirty 
and draggled. I never knew any of them learn to talk, though like many other birds who never 
distinctly enunciate words, they will pick up a chatter altogether different from their natural notes. 
For food they will eat seeds of almost any sort; but when procurable they should often be supplied with 
fresh gum blossoms ; and if these are not obtainable, it would be well to dip little branches in sugared or 
honeyed water, to supply the nectar they certainly eat, when they have to work for their own living. 
Description .—Male : Head and neck yellow, with a faint tinge of green ; shoulders, rump, and 
under surface, brightish yellow ; back and scapularies, olive ; primaries and tail, bluish black ; greater 
wing-coverts, scarlet, edged with yellow and black; irides, orange red ; bill, scarlet; feet, grey. 
