Northern rosella or Brown's parakeet,
Playcercus venustus venustus (Kuhl, 1820)
Psittacidae
(Alecto Facsimile Edition - Plate 19)

BAU21

21. Northern, or Brown’s, Rosella. Platycercus venustus venustus (Kuhl, 1820) [W,P&M]
338 x 506 mm
This bird was shot at Caledon Bay, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory on 6 February 1803. A few
days later, on 8 February, Matthew Flinders wrote in his diary of the hazards he encountered
during the survey of the Australian coastline: “… A party of the gentlemen landed near the head of
the bay, hoping to botanize without interruption; but a number of the natives had collected there,
two of whom advanced, and sought to entice them into the wood by explaining how many animals
might be there shot. The gentlemen were aware of the treachery, and soon thought it advisable to
return to the boat; upon which the natives closed in upon them, with poised spears and every
appearance of intended mischief. The pointing of muskets stopped their forwardness for a
moment; but they came on again, and a shot was fired at each of the two foremost, which put
them to flight, and they were not seen afterwards; but the gentlemen thought it unsafe to proceed
in their occupation, and returned to the ship.“
Today, the Northern Rosella is only found in northern Australia.
W&M : 319-20, 338; W,P&M : 130-131; Norst : 46, 48