no My Layard's Parrakeet. 



been killed mysteriously by vermin in the same aviary, so it is 

 quite possible that he was guiltless. For a time he shared his 

 quarters with a cock Many-colour. He disliked the Many-colour 

 at first, but in a few days' time got quite used to his presence 

 and would tolerate his close proximity without resentment. 



His last and favourite companion has been an enormous 

 hen Guilding's Amazon, now old and short-sighted, but still 

 lively and in magnificent plumage. The Guilding he is quite 

 fond of, though he does not dare to attempt any great familiari- 

 ties with her. She quite likes him in a superior sort of way and 

 will share the same food dish with him. She has also learned 

 to imitate two of his calls and it is very amusing to hear the 

 pair saying " Eh?" to one another, the Amazon in a much 

 louder and gruffer tone than her companion. If the Layard 

 discovers some tit-bit he often unselfishly summons the parrot, 

 using this call. " Eh!" he exclaims, " There's something 

 good here " " Eh?" she replies, " Where is it? I'm coming " 

 and come she soon does and devours the whole of what remains. 



The Layard eats the ordinary seed mixture and he is fond 

 of fruit and cake. He has spent three winters out of doors, and 

 moults successfully and at a sensible time of year. He has, 

 however, had two severe illnesses since I have had him and both 

 times we nearly lost him. The first occurred soon after his 

 arrival, and I do not know what was the cause. The second 

 took place last May and was really due to his own stupidity, 

 though perhaps he would say that it was due to mine ! It was 

 his custom to roost in a particular corner of the aviary next to 

 the catching door— a little hanging door at the top left-hand 

 corner, to which the catching box is attached when required for 

 a bird's removal. Each corner of the aviary is covered with 

 boards at the back, top and sides, and there are also four cosy 

 shelters from wind and wet in the centre. I found that in some, 

 cases birds would go through the catching door more readily if 

 that corner of the aviary was not boarded like the rest, so one 

 day I had the boards removed from one corner of several 

 aviaries, including the Layard's. It did not occur to me that 

 he would fail to seek shelter in the seven other places available, 

 but of course he chose to return to his old position, now wholly 

 unprotected. That night it froze, rained and blew a hurricane 

 after its usual custom this genial spring and next morning the 



