Ibanging parrafteete. 



By Captain G. A. Pekreau, F.Z.S. 



Our worthy Editor is asking for articles on Parrakeets and 

 though not an expert on the subject, I venture to think that an 

 account of my experience with these delightful little birds will 

 present some interesting points, more especially now that they 

 are more frequently imported than formerly, judging from 

 advertisements. Litt'e seems to have been recorded about their 

 habits in captivity and that little has been rather unfavourable. 

 They certainly are not as clean as small seed-eaters, but are far 

 cleaner than any fruit- eater I have kept. 



I procured six at the end of 1904. These were, I think, the 

 Indian or Vernal (Loriculus vey?ialis). They did not survive 

 long, three died quite soon in camp and the other three im- 

 pressed on me the necessity of watching birds when newly turned 

 out into the aviary. As usual, these birds came into my hands 

 with clipped wings. About the end of May (1905) I found I had 

 not the time to attend to them in a cage while their quills were grow- 

 ing, and as the weather was hot and the aviary well branched I had 

 no hesitation in turning them out. How I wished afterwards that I 

 had done so earlier when I should have had leisure to watch them. 

 I watched them for a bit running up and down some rather " soli- 

 tary " longish twigs that hung down from the main branches on the 

 roof to quite close over their food table. Next morning they wece 

 hanging from the tips of those twigs — quite dead. They did not 

 understand going round, a foot more up, two feet along, say four 

 feet down the side, and then a little way out to the table, all 

 along branches, and they could have gorged. I must say I have 

 lound no others as foolish as these, but they got more help at 

 first. I have found no bird stand a fast so badly as these Bat- 

 Parrakeets as Mr. Finn appropriately names them. They do not 

 seem to mind a long night, though I fancy a night feed would do 

 them no harm, but they must feed frequently during the day. 

 They (I am now writing of L. galgulus) used to object strongly 

 to any delay in replacing their food dishes when taken away for 

 cleaning and replenishing. They flew, actually flew when they 

 usually crawled round, to the seed pans, ostentatiously eat 

 nothing, though they really eat a fair quantity of seed, then back 



