PLATYCERCUS SEMITORQUATUS,
Y ellbw-collared Parrakeet.
Psittacm semitorquatus, ^
Dow-am, ^origines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.
Dum-ul-uk, Aborigines of the ih ^ ^ ^ hidistricts of Western Australia.
Twenty-eight Parrakeet, “Colonists of Swan River.
T his very noble species o i Platgeercus is abundantly dispersed over the greater portion of Western Australia,
where it inhabits almost every variety of situation, som^tjmes, searching for food, Upomthb ground like the
rest of its congeners, and at others on the tree s; its chiefC'fopd being either grass-seeds or the hard stoned
fruits and seeds peculiar to’ the trees of the'country in'wKichr it, lives.’ It is equally as abundant at King
George’s Sound as it is at Swan River; I have nqUfreen so fortunate as to obtain any precise information
as to the .extent of its range oyer th„e con^^ent,'j;he' only; parts of the country from which I have received
specimens beiij^fr^itwo localities mentioned above.
This fine bird, likp the rest of' the7 true^Plgtyeerci, is entirely destitute of the os fircatum; hence, like
them, its powers of flight are y^^liiflit,e^p®^h^^tlmr hand it runs quickly over the surface of the ground,
as may be seen by all who have o b s e rv e d th e b ir^ to.which ,it is often consigned and sent to this
country as an ornament for the aipajy, which it graces, botb by its large size and the richly contrasted
colouring o f its plumage. While oh the wing its mqti^Sis tolerably rapid,* and-it often utters a note,
which from its resemblance to those words has>iprbc^^®o| it the appellation of “ twenty-eight” Parrakeet
from the colonists;; the last word or note being- foretimes repeated fi^jitprisix times in succession. ►
; begins breeding-in- the latter part of September or ^jgjhnmg. of October, making no nest, but
depositing its eggs in a holePin either a gum- or mahogany-tree, on the soft' black 'dnst collected at the
bottom ;-they are from seven £SE |jj^H number and of a pure white.
The sexes may be distinguished fry. the much smaller size of the female, ahdhbylnef markings being much
less distinct. .
Forehead crossed by a narrow hapcb 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 biackisfrbrown, the external webs of
each feather deep Blue ; two centre tail-feathers deep grass-green, the next on each side the same passing
blue and'ending in bluish white the lateral feathers greenfafethe base passing into blue,
®mch gradually fades into bluish white at the tip.; chest green; under surface light green; irides dark
brown; bill light born-colour, becoming of a lead-colour oh the front ofrtfrefiipper mandible; legs and
feet dark brown.
The Plate represents the birds ofrthe natural size.