POLYTELIS MELANURA.
J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp.
POLYTELIS MELANURA.
Black-tailed Parrakeet.
Palæornis melanura, Vig. in Lear’s Ill. Psitt., pl. 28, male.
—— anthopeplus, Vig. in Ib., pl. 29, female.
Polytelis melanura, Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
Woȕk-un-ga, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia.
Jul-̏u-up, Aborigines of King George’s Sound.
Mountain Parrot, Colonists of Western Australia.
So little is known of the habits and economy of this beautiful Parrakeet, which has hitherto only been found on the southern portion of the continent of Australia, that the present paper must necessarily be brief. It is strictly an inhabitant of the interior, over which it doubtless ranges widely. Captain Sturt found it on the banks of the Murray, and has given a figure of it in the narrative of his journeys into the interior; His Excellency Governor Grey procured it in the dense scrub to the north-west of Adelaide, and Mr. Gilbert encountered it in the white-gum forests of the Swan River settlement. The extent of its range northward must be left for future researches to determine. Captain Sturt at page 188 of his second volume says, “I believe I have already mentioned that shortly after we first entered the Murray, flocks of a new Paroquet passed over our heads, apparently emigrating to the N.W. They always kept too high to be fired at, but on our return, hereabouts, we succeeded in killing one. It made a good addition to our scanty stock of subjects of natural history.” I believe I am indebted to the kindness and liberality of Captain Sturt for the identical specimen alluded to, a very fine one having been presented to me by him when I visited South Australia.