Austral English Part 192

Ground P.-- Pezoporus formosus, Lath.

Mallee P.-- Platycercus barnardi, Vig. and Hors.

Many-coloured P.-- Psephotus multicolor, Temm.

Night P.-- Pezoporus occidentalis, Gould.

Pale-headed P:-- Platycercus pallidiceps, Vig.

Pheasant P.-- P. adelaidensis, Gould.

Red-backed P.-- Psephotus haematonotus, Gould.

Red-capped P.-- P. spurius, Kuhl.

Rock P.-- Euphema petrophila, Gould.

s.m.u.tty P.-- Platycercus browni, Temm.

Yellow P.-- P. flaveolus, Gould.

Yellow-banded P.

P. zonarius, Shaw.

Yellow-cheeked P.

P. icterotis, Temm.

Yellow-collared P.-- P. semitorquatus, Quoy and Gaim.; called also Twenty-eight (q.v.).

Yellow-mantled P.-- P. splendidus, Gould.

Yellow-vented P.-- Psephotus xanthorrhous, Gould.

See also Gra.s.s-Parrakeet, Musk-Parrakeet, Rosella, and Rosehill. The New Zealand Green Parrakeet (called also Kakariki, q.v.) has the following species--

Antipodes Island P.- Platycercus unicolor, Vig.

Orange-fronted P.-- P. alpinus, Buller.

Red-fronted P.-- P. novae-zelandiae, Sparrm.

Rowley's Parrakeet-- Platycercus rowleyi, Buller.

Yellow-fronted P.-- P. auriceps, Kuhl.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Journal,' p. 80:

"The c.o.c.katoo-parrakeet of the Gwyder River (Nymphicus Novae-Hollandiae, Gould)."

1867. A. G. Middleton, `Earnest,' p. 93:

"The bright parroquet, and the crow, black jet, For covert, wing far to the shade."

1889. Prof. Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,'

p. 118:

"There are three species of parrakeet, the red-fronted (Platycercus Novae-Zelandiae), the yellow-fronted (P. auriceps), and the orange-fronted (P. alpinus).

The genus Platycercus is found in New Zealand, New Guinea, and Polynesia."

Parrot-bill, n. See Kaka-bill.

Parrot-fish, n. name given in Australia to Pseudoscarus pseudolabrus; called in the Australian tropics Parrot-perch. In Victoria and Tasmania, there are also several species of Labricthys. In New Zealand, it is L. psittacula, Rich.

Parrot-Perch, n. See Parrot-fish.

Parrot's-food, n. name given in Tasmania to the plant Goodenia ovata, Sm., N.O. Goodeniaceae.

Parsley, Wild, n. Apium leptophyllum, F. v. M., N.O. Umbelliferae. Parsley grows wild in many parts of the world, especially on the sh.o.r.es of the Mediterranean, and this species is not endemic in Australia.

Parsnip, Wild, n. a poisonous weed, Trachymene australis, Benth., N.O. Umbelliferae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 142:

"Recently (Dec. 1887) the sudden death of numbers of cattle in the vicinity of Dandenong, Victoria, was attributed to their having eaten a plant known as the wild parsnip... . Its action is so powerful that no remedial measures seem to be of any avail."

Parson-bird, n. the New Zealand bird Prosthemadera novae-zelandiae, Gmel.; Maori name, Tui (q.v.). See also Poe.

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 401:

"Cook named this beautiful and lively bird the parson and mocking-bird. It acquired the first name from its having two remarkable white feathers on the neck like a pair of clergyman's bands."

[Mr. Taylor is not correct. Cook called it the Poe-bird (q.v.). The name `Parson-bird' is later.]

1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand the Britain of the South,'

vol. i. p. 118:

"The most common, and certainly the most facetious, individual of the ornithology is the tui (parson-bird). Joyous Punchinello of the bush, he is perpetual fun in motion."

1858. C. W., `Song of the Squatters,' `Canterbury Rhymes'

(2nd edit.), p. 47:

"So the parson-bird, the tui, The white-banded songster tui, In the morning wakes the woodlands With his customary music.

Then the other tuis round him Clear their throats and sing in concert, All the parson-birds together."

1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 93:

"The tui, or parson-bird, most respectable and clerical-looking in its glossy black suit, with a singularly trim and dapper air, and white wattles of very slender feathers--indeed they are as fine as hair--curled coquettishly at each side of his throat, exactly like bands."

1888. Dr. Thomson, apud Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol.