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Some Notes on Crimson-wing Farrakeets. 



The flight of the Crimson-wing" has been compared by 

 Ciould to that of the Peewit — a not inept comparison, akhougn 

 the parrakeet lacks the pecuHar rounded wing of the plover. 

 Like the Barraband, the Crimson-wing may be said to possess 

 two flights — a dove-like one, which is used when the bird is 

 passing from tree to tree, and a graceful swing that is employed 

 when he is well up and bent on travelling some distance ; the 

 latter is very pleasing to watch, quite apart from the bird's 

 glorious plumage, which makes him the most charming additio i 

 that it is possible to imagine to the rather sombre tints of a 

 winter garden. 



The Crimson-wing at liberty soon made himself at home 

 and quickly achieved the mastery over all the other parrakeets, 

 except the iving. He was by no means daunted by the superi jr 

 size and huge beaks of the Great-bills and they soon learned to 

 give him a wide berth. Fortunately, also, he showed no 

 inclination to explore the chimneys and encouraged by his good 

 behaviour, I released another cock. This bird had already 

 given us some indication of the pugnacious disposition whic'i 

 is the one serious drawback to the species. Soon after his 

 arrival he had been turned into an aviary with a pair of Black 

 Cockatoos, but he bullied them so much that it was found 

 necessary to remove and cage him. I released him when the 

 King and the other cock Crimson-wing were close by. He fell 

 upon them at once and put them to flight, introduced himself to 

 the hen Crimson-wing by a volley of personal abuse and a clear 

 intimation that he would like to bite her. and then settled down 

 to enjoy his freedom. Most of the time ne associated with i 

 pair of Indian Ring-necks, who did not relish his company at 

 all, but were unable to get rid of him. 



I next turned my attention to cocks No. 3 and No. 4. 

 No. 3 was a very tame bird, who won a prize at a local show. 

 As he was so steady and had so many companions of his own 

 kmd about, I did not trouble to keep him shut u]) to get used 

 to the place, but turned him straight out (jn arrival. No. 4, 

 by the way, was occupying an aviary at the time. No. 3 walked 

 out of his cage quietly enough and began picking about the 

 grass. Then he caught sight of an Alexandrine Parrakeet in 

 an aviary near by. and flew on to the top to tell her how much 

 he would like to fight her. A moment later No. 2 flew down 



