_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PLATYCERCUS SEMITORQUATUS, _Quoy and Gaim._
Yellow-collared Parrakeet.
_Psittacus semitorquatus_, Quoy and Gaim.
_Dȍw-arn_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.
_Dȕm-ul-uk_, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western
Australia.
_Twenty-eight Parrakeet_, Colonists of Swan River.
This very noble species of _Platycercus_ is abundantly dispersed over
the greater portion of Western Australia, where it inhabits almost every
variety of situation, sometimes searching for food upon the ground like
the rest of its congeners, and at others on the trees; its chief food
being either grass-seeds or the hard stoned fruits and seeds peculiar to
the trees of the country in which it lives. It is equally as abundant at
King George’s Sound as it is at Swan River; I have not been so fortunate
as to obtain any precise information as to the extent of its range over
the continent, the only parts of the country from which I have received
specimens being the two localities mentioned above.
This fine bird, like the rest of the true _Platycerci_, is entirely
destitute of the _os furcatum_; hence, like them, its powers of flight
are very limited; on the other hand it runs quickly over the surface of
the ground, as may be seen by all who have observed the bird in a cage,
to which it is often consigned and sent to this country as an ornament
for the aviary, which it graces, both by its large size and the richly
contrasted colouring of its plumage. While on the wing its motion is
tolerably rapid, and it often utters a note, which from its resemblance
to those words has procured for it the appellation of “twenty-eight”
Parrakeet from the colonists; the last word or note being sometimes
repeated five or six times in succession.
It begins breeding in the latter part of September or beginning of
October, making no nest, but depositing its eggs in a hole in either a
gum- or mahogany-tree, on the soft black dust collected at the bottom;
they are from seven to nine in number and of a pure white.
The sexes may be distinguished by the much smaller size of the female,
and by her markings being much less distinct.
Forehead crossed by a narrow band of crimson; head blackish brown,
passing into blue on the cheeks; back of the neck encircled by a band of
bright yellow; back and upper surface generally deep grass-green,
passing into pale green on the shoulders; primaries and spurious wing
blackish brown, the external webs of each feather deep blue; two centre
tail-feathers deep grass-green, the next on each side the same passing
into blue and ending in bluish white at the tip; the lateral feathers
green at the base passing into blue, which gradually fades into bluish
white at the tip; chest green; under surface light green; irides dark
brown; bill light horn-colour, becoming of a lead-colour on the front of
the upper mandible; legs and feet dark brown.
The Plate represents the birds of the natural size.
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