i8 Correspondence. 



l.'.rger islands. Coolietovvn in Trinidad boasts a store, with a grand assort- 

 ment if you are not too particular as to the kind of pet desired. In Caracas 

 you chase the dealer round in nn auto, unless it ; market day — it was not 

 market day. but we got oiu" birds ! 



Every trip yields something, but if I should go out to come back empty 

 handed — no cases as to to feeding, etc. ; I believe it would be .spoiled for me. 

 'J bus you see the fever has us and has us good 



L'.lairstown, N.J., U.S.A.; November 12th, 1922. K. N.WOODWARD. 



THE COURTSHIl' Ol' THE CRIMSON-WING PARRAKEET. 



Sir, — I have just witnessed the very peculiar methods of courtship 

 adopted by the Crimson-wing ( ) which were described 



tc me by the late Mr. Yealland, but which I had not seen myself. 



This afternoon (January 12) I re-introduccd one of my cocks to his 

 mate, whom he had not seen for several months. Directly she was turned 

 into the aviary he simply fell upon her, chattering angrily, drove her about 

 and pulled out her feathers. She responded to this treatment by inviting him 

 to pair with her. which he did in a very rough fashion, and soon afterwards 

 c;Jmetl down. Anyone who has onU had experience of other species of 

 piirrakeets would jirobably seperate the coui)le immediately after introducing 

 them, in the belief that the cock would certainly kill the female : indeed Sir 

 Leo Chiozza Monev, who sold me m\- l)recding pair of Crimson-wings, told 

 nic that they would not agree, proljabiy because of their ;ip]iarent unfriend- 

 iiness when he had ])Ut them together for the first lime. 



A cock Crimson-winu at li])ert\ , when courthig a feni.ale in an aviary, 

 swe.ars at her and tries to attack lier when he first meets her, .and alter 

 tliat runs about on the tup of the .isi.-iry. chewing up leaves, which he 

 fetclies from' lime to time from plants near by. 



] need hardly sav that I should not advice anyone to try and keep two 

 ]);irrakeets of any other species together when the male behaves in the 

 remarkable fashion a Crimson-wing considers appropriate to a bridegroom ; 

 it would invite almost certain disaster, and even Crimson-wings are best 

 watched to make sure th.at they are going to settle down in the end. 



Rough methods of courtship are not uncommon with passerine birds, 

 bnt the ])arrot family usually dis])l;iy either great affection or much courtly 

 politeness. 



(The Marquis of) T.W'l. STOCK. 



STRAY NOTES. 



SiK.-Till this country gets into a more contented state I fear the 

 peaceful pursuit of aviculture ca.nnot beconu' normal, we are all too much oc- 

 cu]iied in making ends meet ! I am different as 1 must keep a few birds 

 for occupation's sake. 



Last year T had nothing to write about as I suffered from the very 

 common complaint of having too many birds per square foot of aviary space. 



