Vo, i 924 IV ] FLETCHER, Birds of the Steppes 
111 
Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon.—A couple seen. 
Ieracidea berigora. Brown Hawk.—1 saw several of these at differ¬ 
ent times flying over the rocky ground, possibly chasing rabbits, 
which abounded there. 
Ninox nova*-seeIandia?. Spotted Owl.—I came across one sitting 
in a thick tangle of Banksia and heard others at night calling from 
the forest. 
Tyto novae-hollandia?. Masked Owl.—I should think that this class 
of country would-be suited to this bird. I saw one flying one evening. 
Glossopsitta concinna. Musk Lorikeet.—Plentiful in the years 
when the gums are flowering. This past year has been a record one 
at the Steppes for the number of trees in blossom. Consequently 
these birds have been there in large flocks. 
Calyptorhynchus funereus. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo.—Fairly 
numerous. I got quite close to them several times when they were 
intent on searching the fallen tree trunks or the chock-and-log fences 
for grubs. 
Cacatua galerita. White Cockatoo.—Occasionally I saw a few 
flying over the timber towards the Lake. 
Platycercus caledonicus. Green Rosella.—Very plentiful. Some 
dwellers of these higher altitude have richer colouring in their blue 
and reds than the low dwelling members of their family. These 
parrots eat largely of the wild pink berries on bushes that are the chief 
undergrowth in the forest. They also visit the homestead for the 
buds on the willows. They were nesting freely. One pair inspected 
the hole already selected by two Forty-spotted Diamond Birds to the 
great distress of the small owners. But as the parrot could insert 
her head only, the first selectors were allowed to keep their home. 
I found a nesting hole about thirty feet up in the trunk of a tall 
Stringy-top Black-butt. The female had not commenced to sit. She 
laid an egg each morning, between 10 and 11. Her mate, on the 
several mornings I watched their hole, came and waited for her. She 
popped out her head, he gave a call, and then off they flew. I tried 
to obtain a photograph of them, but the site was too difficult. 
Platycercus eximius. Eastern Rosella.—In good numbers, bat not 
so numerous as the preceding. They were nesting in the trees on the 
fiat along the road to Interlaken. 
Neophema chrysostoma. Blue-winged Parrot.—These birds follow 
the gum blossoms. On a previous visit (4th January, 1921), I found 
a pair nesting in a dead tree close to the Lagoon. The nesting hole 
was 20 feet up in the trunk of the tree. 
Neophema chrysogaster. Orange-breasted Parrot.—Their presence 
also depends on the flowering of the trees. 
Pezoporus wallicus. Ground Parrot.—I did not see this bird my¬ 
self, but was told it used to frequent the tussocks of band grass in the 
tiny plains around the lagoons. I had hoped to explore St. 
Patrick's Plains for this parrot. It is said to be there, but I was 
unable to do so. I have included this note so that some other ornith¬ 
ologist may have a chance to follow up this rare parrot. 
Podargus strigoides. Tasmanian Frogmouth.—Seen, but I found 
only a couple of their old nests. 
i$lgotheles cristata. Owlet Nightjar.—Locally known by the name 
of Moth Owl. 
Cuculus pallidus. Pallid Cuckoo.—Arrives in the district in Sep¬ 
tember, and leaves before March. I found one of their eggs smashed 
beneath a sapling in which a Black Cap's nest had been pulled to 
pieces. 
Cacomantis flabelliformis. Fantail Cuckoo.— It is present during 
the brief summer. 
Chalcites basalis. Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo. 
