mentioned in Mr. Campbell's "Nests and Eggs," p. 1,069). The granulations on a lighter ground appear finer than those from the mainland, and the egg is very dark green in colour; it measures 4.85 x 3.40 inches.—D. Le Souëf. Melbourne.
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Alexandra Parrakeet in Western Australia.— Recently Mr. and Mrs. Hunter arrived in Melbourne from Western Australia, bringing with them nine Parrots. My attention was at once centred on a pair which I believed to be Alexandra Parrakeets (Polytelis alexandræ). Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, who were living at Menzies, in the East Murchison District, said that the blacks procured the Parrots, about 25 miles from that town, last October. The blacks had never previously noticed these birds in the district.[1] Mr. Ed. D'Ombrain has since seen the birds, and has confirmed my surmise as to their name.—T. Hurst. Melbourne, 10/6/03.
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Some May Notes from Central Queensland.— On 16th May I shot a Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), and when cleaning it found an egg ready for laying and several smaller ones; some had already been laid. I have since refrained from shooting Ducks. I have also found the following birds nesting:—Partridge-Pigeon (Geophaps scripta), 15th May; Little Dove (Geopelia cuneata), 23/5/03; Pale-headed Parrakeet (Platycercus pallidiceps), 16/5/03; Red-winged Lory (Ptistes erythropterus), 20/5/03; Little Lorikeet (Glossopsittacus pusillus), 25/5/03; Chestnut-eared Finch (Tamiopygia castanotis), 26/5/03; Banded Finch (Stictoptera bichenovii), 14/5/03; Black-headed Pardalote (Pardalotus melanocephalus), 26/5/03; Red-browed Pardalote (Pardalotus rubricatus), 26/5/03; Blue- faced Honey-eater (Entomyza cyanotis), 27/5/03; Miner (Myzantha garrula), 20/5/03; Fuscous Honey-eater (Ptilotis fusea), 27/5/03; The Little Dove (Geopelia cuneata) is very seldom seen in this part, preferring to keep further west, but these birds are here in numbers now, as are also Cockatoo-Parrots (Calopsittacus novæ-hollandiæ), another visitor to thes parts.—H. Greensill Barnard. Binbi, via Rockhampton.
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Do Birds Find Food by Instinct or Sight?—A flock (about 20) of Blue-bellied Lorikeets (Trichoglossus novæ-kollandiæ) came to a clump of sugar gums (eucalypts) I have planted for shelter last December, and stayed while the blossoms lasted. I have not seen these birds about this district for over twenty years, not even flying overhead. The latter end of December a heavy thunderstorm, about two miles wide, passed over this district, causing thistles, &c, to spring up and grow luxuriantly. In March and April numbers of the Rose-breasted Cockatoos (Cacatua
- ↑ The Alexandra Parrakeet has been noted for North-West Australia, but not previously for W. A. proper.—Eds.
