Order PITTA C1F0RMES. 
No. 82. 
Family PL A T YCERCIDjE. 
NORTHIELLA H/EMATOGASTER, 
(NABETHiE.) 
LITTLE BLUE BONNETT. 
(Plate 63.) 
Nokthiella ii .ematogaster Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VI., pt. v., p. 410, pi. 312, Sept. 11th, 
1917: Partim. 
Psephotus narethce H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XXI., pt. n., p. 81, pi. xii., Oct. 3rd, 1921: Naretha, 
Nullabor Plains, Western Australia (red vent). 
Northiella hwmatogaster narethce Mathews, Syst. Av. Austral., p. 345, June 13th, 1927. 
Distribution. The district round Naretha, Nullahor Plains, Western Australia. 
Adult male. Pore-head and lores verdi ter-green ; top of the head and back of the neck light olive- 
brown ; mantle, back and scapulars dull olive-yellow ; lower back, rump and upper tail- 
coverts brighter olive-yellow ; lesser wing-coverts violet-blue ; median wing-coverts scarlet; 
greater wing-coverts and priinary-coverts violet ; primaries black on the inner web, dark 
violet-blue on the inner web on the basal half, bluisli-white on the terminal half ; middle 
pair of tail-feathers greenish-olive at the base, becoming blue towards the extremity ; 
remainder of the tail violet on the basal half and white on the terminal half ; cheeks and 
sides of the face purplish-blue ; throat, chest and sides of body whitish-buff ; breast and 
abdomen orange-yellow ; under tail-coverts vermilion-red ; under wing-coverts rich violet- 
blue. Iris deep brown ; bill bluish-white ; feet iron-grey. Total length about 280 mm.: 
culmen 19, wing 117, tail 148, tarsus 19. Naretha, Great Western Railway, West 
Australia, on the 20th of September, 1921. 
Adult female. Similar to the adult male described above, but slightly duller in general colora¬ 
tion, especially on the belly. Iris deep brown, bill bluish-white, feet iron-grey. Total length 
about 275 mm.: culmen 17, wing 109, tail 145, tarsus 19. Naretha, Great Western Railway, 
Western Australia, on the 23rd of September, 1921. 
The immature male upon leaving the nest carries plumage very similar to that of the mature 
female, but with a marked wash of bright yellow over the feathers of body and wings. 
Nest. A hole in a tree (Desert Oak, Casuarina ), the eggs being deposited on the debris, 
eighteen inches from the entrance. The hole was about five feet from the ground. 
Eggs. Clutch five. Rounded oval hi shape ; shell close in grain, but slightly rough. Dead white 
without gloss. Measurements: 22—24 mm. by 18—20. Average 23 by 19. Another clutch 
of four averages 22 mm. by 18. 
Breeding-season. (July), August, September. 
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