INTRODUCTION The discovery of Australia's Parrot extends over a period of about 250 years - starting with the probable sighting of the Little Corella in 1699 up to the discovery of Marshall's Fig parrot in 1947.' HISTORY The genus Polytelis was established by Wagler in 1832. At the time it consisted of two species: the Barraband (Superb) and the Regent. The Barraband was discovered in the Murrumbidgee area of New South Wales in 1826, the Regent by Captain John Sturt on his Murray River expedition in 1830-1831. The third member of the genus, the Princess was discovered in 1862 by ornithologist Frederick G. Waterhouse, who shot two birds at Howell's Pond, central Australia, while a member of the Stuart Exploratory Expedition. It was named Polytelis alexandrae by Gould in 1863 who wrote "I feel assured that the discovery of an additional species of the lovely genus Polytelis will be hailed with pleasure by ornithologists..." Polytelis is Greek for magnificent, alexandrae after a Danish princess who married Edward Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. Other common names are Princess of Wales parrot, Queen Alexandra parrot, Spinifex parrot and Rose-Throated parrot, a name which more aptly describes this beautiful bird. STATUS It seems apparent that since the coming of the white man, at least, the princess has been a rare bird. Both its remote habitat and the dearth of people in the area have made reported sightings rare. HABITAT The Princess's habitat encompasses the second largest desert area in the World. The word Desert should not conjure up visions of the Sahara... Hutchens and Lovell describe the habitat - "the desert areas the Princess inhabit are not flat and featureless places devoid of all growth; their range includes numerous mountain ranges, undulating hilly areas, sand dunes and ridges and gibber plains, over most of which grows Spinifex, which in good seasons produces an abundance of seeds. Being nomadic in habit, the Princess moves from one area to another wherever food is available". Spinifex is not their main diet, they also feed on the many eucalypts and other native shrubs which occur throughout their range. Princess appear to favour the tall gums growing along the dry water courses for nesting. Cayley gives the breeding season in the wild as November to January. Thanks for your comments, Stuart