Order PSITTAOIFOBMES. 
Family PEZOPOPdJE. 
GEOPSITTACUS OCCIDENTALIS. 
SPINIFEX or NIGHT PARROT. 
Geopsittacus occidentals Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. 6, p. 495, Dec. 11th, 1917. 
Ik the South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. XI., Part 3, for July, 1931, Mr. Neil 
McGilp gives us some valuable notes (taken at first-hand by Mr. John McDonald) 
on this bird. The locality is Cootanoorina Station, south and slightly east of 
Oodnadatta, in Central Australia. 
Young. Greyish-green in colour with a black spot in the centre of each feather. 
[Probably rather like the adults.] 
Nest. Placed in the centre of a bunch of porcupine bush. The nest was approached through a 
tunnel, starting down on the side and almost under the bunch. At the end of the tunnel 
was an enlarged cavitj 7 where a fair number of small sticks made a platform between the 
central branches of the bush. The nest is never placed on the ground. 
Eggs. Clutch four, rounded, white [30 mm. by 28 ?] 
The adult, during the day, crouched in a “ squat ”. In the darkness, 
between eight and nine o’clock, they come to drink, in small companies consisting 
of several birds. The birds have a low two-note whistle, which they utter 
frequently in flight during the trip to and from the water. During the day, while 
in the “ squat ”, they are silent. 
This confirms the observations of F. W. Andrews in the Trans. Proc. and 
Report, Roy. Soc. South Austr., Vol. VI., Dec., 1883, pp. 29-30. During the 
dajr this bird lies concealed in the inside of a tussock or bunch of porcupine grass 
( Triodia ), the inside being pulled out and a snug retreat formed for its protection. 
Here, also, its rough nest is formed, and four white eggs laid. When the dark 
shades of evening have fairly set in it comes out to feed, but generally flies direct 
to the nearest water, which is often at a considerable distance from its nest, 
in some instances four or five miles. After drinking and shaking themselves 
up a little, they fly ofi to feed on the seeds of the porcupine grass, returning to the 
water two or three times during the night. 
They have a whistling note and a very peculiar croaking note of alarm when 
at the water, which much resembles the loud croak of a frog. 
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