THE FLAT-TAILED PARRAKEETS. 239 



them, like the Noble Parrakeets and the Conures, to a really 

 varied seed diet. Green food, it is to be noted, may in 

 particular be dangerous to the Platycerci ; a very small 

 piece is sufficient to make a freshly arrived bird very ill, and 

 it may prove injurious or destructive to long acclimatised or 

 even home-bred birds. Nevertheless, green food would appear 

 to be a necessity, for they devour it with incredible eager- 

 ness. I have habituated my Flat-tailed Parrakeets to it, by 

 giving very small, and then gradually increasing quantities, of 

 tradescantia, mignonette, or chickweed, so that afterwards 

 they could take it without stint. All other green food, 

 especially salad, must be entirely avoided. Fresh branches of 

 trees, particularly of the willow, are, however, very whole- 

 some for them. For the rest, they may have — but, I must 

 again repeat, in very gradually increasing quantities — biscuit 

 or egg bread, fresh or dried ant-grubs ; the last may be given in 

 a mash of carrots, but only when they are about to breed ; 

 finally, some good fruit — good apples, sweet pears, cherries, or 

 grapes, and service berries ; but of these, with the exception of 

 the last, only very little. I would recommend above all things, 

 as most wholesome for the Platycerci, and, indeed, for parrots 

 generally, fresh ears of corn or grass seeds in a milky state, or 

 when quite ripe; the best are oats, millet, and canary seed. 

 With such precautions the Platycerci prove extraordinarily 

 hardy, for almost all — even the most delicate varieties — have thus 

 been kept for a long time, and have even passed the winter in 

 unheated rooms. 



They do not appear to take high rank in intelligence — at 

 least, they are far behind the Noble Parrakeets and Conures. 

 However, they have not the shrill cry of these latter, though 

 from their screeching thev may become just as wearisome. Of 

 late the talent for speech has in several varieties been proved, 

 and for this reason they must find a place in this book. But 

 even if every species of the Platycerci should prove to be gifted 

 with speech, none of them would be found highly talented in 

 that respect, for all, without exception, would only learn to 

 chatter a few words. It is interesting, however, to find that 

 this bird, of such splendid plumage and so easily bred, can be 

 taught to speak ; and for the breeder, as well, doubtless, as for 

 the fancier, there will be a special charm in breeding all species 

 of Flat-tailed Parrakeets, and training the young thus obtained 

 to become talkers. Many species arrive in Europe without the 



