File:The birds of Australia (16864172961).jpg

PLATE XLII.
GENUS EUPHEMA. (Wagler.)
THE seven species into which this genus is subdivided are exclusively Australian, and, so far, appear to be
confined to the temperate zone, on the mainland, between the Wide Bay District of Queensland and
Western Australia. Within this area they are abundantly distributed, and two of them — Euphema
chrysostoma and Euphema aurantia — being of migratory tendencies, pass over to the adjacent island of
Tasmania. They do not possess any imitative powers, but their beautiful plumage fully compensates for the
lack of this attractive quality. They have long and strong tarsi adapted to running swiftly over the ground,
and the flight is powerful and well sustained.
EUPHEMA AURANTIA. (Gould.)
ORANGE-BELLIED GRASS PARRAKEET. Genus: Euphema.
THE bird under present notice, though sufficiently like its congener, Euphema elegans, to be mistaken for a
variety of the same species, is by no means so beautiful, as it lacks in a great degree the conspicuous blue
forehead ; while the upper surfaces are green instead of olive brown, and there is a well-defined patch of
orange between the thighs — whence the name aurantia.
Like the Blue-Banded, it is migratory in its habits, spending its summers in Tasmania and the islands
in Bass' Straits, and is seldom met with on the mainland, except during winter, and then only in a few favoured
localities, such as Port Adelaide and Holdfast Bay. In New South Wales it is seldom met with, and never
penetrates further north than to the Richmond District, which touches the south coast border of Queensland.
Gould's personal experiences of this little bird are interesting enough to be transcribed verbatim : " I observed it
sparingly dispersed in the neighbourhood of Hobart Town and New Norfolk, but found it in far greater abundance
on the Actaeon Islands, at the entrance of D'Entrecasteaux Channel. These small and uninhabited islands are
covered with grasses and scrub, intermingled with a species of Barilla, nearly allied to Atriplex halimus (a Salt
bush) ; and almost the only land bird that enlivens these solitary spots is the present beautiful Parrakeet. I
frequently flushed small flocks from among the grass, when they almost immediately alighted upon 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 unsuccessful attempts
to discover their breeding-places ; as, however, these islands are destitute of large trees, I am induced to believe
that they lay eggs in holes on the ground, or among the stones on the shore. 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."
It is more than likely that these birds go elsewhere to breed, as they are strong-winged and can make
long flights without taking rest. Incubation lasts from September to January, but no authentic knowledge is to
hand as to the number of eggs they lay. Probably in this respect, as in most others, they adhere to the habits of
other Euphema. The egg is white, with a very fine textured shell ; length, ten lines and three-quarters ; breadth,
nine lines.
The note uttered by the Aurantia is a great contrast to the musical whistle of Euphema elegans ; it