I'uur Species of Lovebirds. 185 



the Lavender-heads in no way interfered with the Linnet dtiring 

 the period of incubation. 



Red-faced Lovebird {Agaponiis puUaria): The beauty 

 01 this charming- species was too great a temptation when 1 first 

 saw them and I fell : their beautiful colour harmony — brilliant 

 contrasted w-ith their vivid red head and beak^was quite beyond 

 resistance, and I brought them away with me. 



This species, when first imported, is undoubtedly very 

 ('elicate. I purchased mine last February, during very frosty 

 weather; the hen speedily went West. I replaced her and kept 

 the pair in my dining-room, where a fire was continually 

 burning; they both speedily improved in plumage, and became 

 very tame. Both birds bathe and invariably choose a sunny 

 day for their ablutions. They are murderously inclined to all 

 (jther birds with whom they come in contact, and, in fact, 

 often deal each other severe blows with their powerful beaks. 



Their demeanour is not lively; they strike one as being 

 generally stupidly inactive, but have occasional bitrsts of vivacity 

 v.dien their deportment is very amusing. They have never 

 made any attempt to go to nest, but I have never encouraged 

 -.1 as in the case of all my lovebirds they were newly-imported, 

 and before attempting their breeding my idea was to study their 

 wants and get them thoroughly acclimatised for another season. 



I feed on equal part's of canary, white millet, oats, and a 

 llL'.lc hemp; they are passionately fond of millet sprays, in fa;ct, 

 A, hen this food is available, will eat little else, and, I should say, 

 would easily thrive thereupon. As spring advanced they 

 readily took to grapes, pear, and any fruit of a sweet, juicy 

 r.atnre; groundsel, seeding grass, and lettuce they eat freely too. 



Rosy or Peach-faced Lovebird (Agaponiis roseicoUis) : 

 These are really a larger and paler edition of puUaria — their 

 ;;oft green plumage, vivid l)lue back-patch, and undoubtedly 

 peach-coloured face, easily make them first favoin^ites with me, 

 and they are undoubtedly the most attractive, vigorous and 

 hurdy of the A gaporni. 



They have an ear-piercing note, but this, to me, is a 

 cheerful contrast to their quieter brethren. My pair are in 

 perfect plumage, and they have shown a decfcled inclination to 

 go to nest — they live in a cage 2ft. x 2ft. x 4ft. high — but, as 



