_J. & E. Gould del._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
EUPHEMA ELEGANS, _Gould_.
Elegant Grass-Parrakeet.
_Nanodes elegans_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. 1837, p.
25.—Ib. Syn. Birds of Australia, Part II.
_Gool-ye-der-ung_, Aborigines of the lowlands of Western Australia.
_Ground Parrakeet_, of the Colonists.
Although closely resembling in size and form the Blue-banded
Grass-Parrakeet, this species differs in several minor particulars. The
green colouring of its plumage is of a more golden hue; the blue frontal
band extends behind the eye, while in the former it reaches no farther
than the front: the difference in the colouring of the wings of the two
species is also strongly marked, that part in the one being wholly blue,
while in the other all the shoulders and portions near the scapularies
are green.
As far as I could learn, the present species is never seen in Van
Diemen’s Land, while the Blue-banded is a constant summer visitant to
that island; neither is it a common bird in New South Wales, its visits
to that country being quite accidental. I found it abundant in South
Australia, even in the depth of winter, and I have since received its
eggs from the same country, as well as from King George’s Sound and Swan
River; we may therefore reasonably suppose it ranges over all the
intermediate country, and that it is there a permanent resident.
It appears to prefer the barren and sandy belts bordering the coast, but
occasionally resorts to the more distant interior. Flocks were
constantly rising before me while traversing the salt marshes, which
stretch along the coast from Holdfast Bay to the Port of Adelaide; they
were feeding upon the seeds of grasses and various other plants, which
were there abundant: in the middle of the day, or when disturbed, they
retreat to the thick _Banksias_ that grow on the sandy ridges in the
immediate neighbourhood, and in such numbers, that I have seen those
trees literally covered with them, intermingled with the orange-breasted
species (_E. aurantia_), which, however, was far less numerous. When
they rise, they spread out and display their beautiful yellow
tail-feathers to the greatest advantage.
The following account of this species, as observed in Western Australia,
has been sent me by Mr. John Gilbert:
“It inhabits every variety of situation, but particularly where there is
an abundance of grass, the seeds of which are its favourite food: it may
be generally observed in small families until the hottest part of the
year, when the courses being dried up, water only remains in small
pools; these birds then congregate in almost incredible numbers morning
and evening. At Kojenup, where there are several pools, and no other
water for many miles round, I saw these birds in myriads; but although I
shot a great many, they were nearly all young birds. Its flight is rapid
and even, and frequently at considerable altitudes. The breeding season
is in September and October; the eggs being from four to seven in
number,” of a pure white, eleven lines long, by eight and a half lines
broad.
A bar of deep indigo-blue across the forehead, bordered above by a
narrow edging of light metallic blue, which is continued over the eye;
lores rich yellow; head, cheeks, scapularies, back and upper shoulders
greenish blue; secondaries deep blue, edged with lighter; primaries
black, the first three or four edged externally with greenish blue;
tail-coverts golden olive-green; throat and chest greenish yellow,
passing into bright yellow on the abdomen and under tail-coverts; the
centre of the abdomen tinged with orange; two middle tail-feathers
greenish blue, the remainder blue at the base, and largely tipped with
yellow; irides very dark brown; bill dark brown, lighter on the under
side; legs and feet dull brown.
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size, on a
branch of the _Pittosporum_.
[Illustration:
EUPHEMA AURANTIA: _Gould_.
_J. & E. Gould del^t._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
EUPHEMA AURANTIA, _Gould_.
Orange-bellied Grass-Parrakeet.
_Euphema aurantia_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Nov. 10, 1840.
Although the present bird is not so elegant in form, nor graced with so
brilliant a frontal band as several others of the group, it has received
an ample compensation in the rich orange mark that adorns the under
surface, a character by which it may be distinguished from every other
known species. Like the _Euphema chrysostoma_, it is a summer visitant
to Van Diemen’s Land, and they may sometimes be found associating
together; still I have obtained specimens in localities where I believe
the other is never seen. I observed it sparingly dispersed in the
neighbourhood of Hobart Town and New Norfolk, but found it in far
greater abundance on the Actæon Islands, at the entrance of
D’Entrecasteaux Channel. These small islands are covered with grasses
and scrub, intermingled with a quantity of a species of Barilla, nearly
allied to _Atriplex halimus_; and almost the only land-bird that
enlivens these solitary spots is the present beautiful Parrakeet: I
frequently flushed small flocks of them from among the grass, when they
almost immediately alighted on the barilla bushes around me, their
sparkling orange bellies forming a striking contrast with the green of
the other parts of their plumage and the silvery foliage of the plant
upon which they rested. I made many attempts to discover their breeding
places, but always unsuccessfully; as however these islands are
destitute of large trees, I am induced to believe that they lay their
eggs in holes on the ground, or among the stones on the shore. When I
thoroughly disturbed them they flew off to the neighbouring islands, or
to the main land, uttering a singular snapping note, very unlike that of
their associates, the _Euphema chrysostoma_. On visiting South Australia
in winter, I there found it equally abundant on the flat, marshy grounds
bordering the coast, especially between the Port of Adelaide and
Holdfast Bay. Specimens collected in winter and summer, and in
localities distant from each other, present no difference whatever in
their plumage.
It may be a casual visitor to New South Wales and Swan River, but I have
not yet seen it in any collections from those parts of Australia.
Frontal band blue, margined before and behind with a very faint line of
greenish blue; crown of the head and all the upper surface deep
grass-green; shoulders, many of the secondaries, and outer edges of the
primaries deep indigo-blue; lores, cheeks and breast yellowish green,
passing into greenish yellow on the abdomen and under tail-coverts, the
centre of the abdomen being ornamented with a large spot of rich orange;
two centre tail-feathers green; the next on each side blackish brown on
the inner, and green on the outer webs; the remainder blackish brown on
their inner, and green on their outer webs, and largely tipped with
bright yellow; irides very dark brown; bill dark brown, becoming lighter
on the under side; legs and feet dull brown.
The female possesses the orange spot in common with the male, although,
in her case, it is neither so extensive nor so brilliant.
The figures represent a male and a female, on a branch of the Barilla
plant, of the natural size.
[Illustration:
EUPHEMA PETROPHILA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
EUPHEMA PETROPHILA, _Gould_.
Rock Grass-Parrakeet.
_Euphema petrophila_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 148.
_Rock Parrakeet_, Colonists of Swan River.
Independently of the difference in the colouring of the face of this
species, it differs also from all the other members of the genus in its
habits; for although, like them, it obtains its food on the ground,
feeding on the seeds of the various grasses that grow over nearly the
whole surface of Australia, it is far more partial to rocky situations
than to trees. I have received specimens of this bird from Port Lincoln
in South Australia, but its great stronghold appears to be the western
coast, where it occurs in great numbers on Rottnest and other islands
near Swan River: “Here,” says Mr. Gilbert, “it breeds in the holes of
the most precipitous cliffs, choosing in preference those facing the
water and most difficult of access; and hence it required no slight
degree of exertion to procure examples of the eggs, which, according to
the testimony of the natives, are white and seven or eight in number.
“Its flight is extremely rapid, and at times it mounts to a great height
in the air.”