242 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



crops, inflicting considerable damage, and because their flesh 

 is reckoned delicious eating, they have long been keenly pur- 

 sued as game, and have everywhere been driven out of the 

 inhabited districts. But of late, like most parrots, they have 

 become an important article of commerce, and, therefore, they 

 are chiefly caught alive in large nets. This is done principally 

 when they begin their migrations in flocks. They then suddenly 

 appear in neighbourhoods in which they are not found at other 

 times, and, according to the success met with in capturing them, 

 they are exported to Europe. 



We know comparatively little of the life of this very common 

 variety in freedom ; we have, however, full details as to its 

 existence in captivity. All that I have written on page 238, by 

 way of introduction, applies especially to the Rosella. I wish, 

 however, to mention emphatically that this bird can bear our 

 climate exceedingly well, and has already in many cases, notably 

 with Mr. Otto Wigand, photographer in Zeitz, shown that it 

 can, without danger, pass the winter in our country in the open 

 air. Wigand, in 1871, was the first to breed this species. 



The traveller, Gould, asserts that the Eosella, in spite of its 

 brilliant plumage, is unable to excite a lasting interest; in- 

 variably after a short time it becomes wearisome, and I fear that 

 even the ease with which it can be bred will hardly lend it any 

 considerable value. Nevertheless, it has found enthusiastic 

 admirers, and among them Mr. A. Bargheer, teacher of music at 

 Basel. He thus describes them : " A couple of Eosellas in 

 a cage may appear quiet and stupid, because they are too shy 

 and terrified to move about much. Where, on the other hand, 

 they have plenty of room to fly about, they are uncommonly 

 lively, and so attractive and entertaining that one may watch 

 their antics with pleasure. Their flight is easy and graceful, 

 their movements on the ground quick and skilful, although, like 

 all parrots, they look awkward owing to the inward turn of the 

 foot and the manner of lifting one over the other. They also 

 climb rapidly, but prefer to fly, and frequently undertake con- 

 tinuous exercise on the wing. One must use care, especially at 

 first, in giving them green food ; but I gave twigs of willows, 

 alder, beech, and fruit trees, afterwards ears of all kinds of corn 

 and grasses, and, finally, chickweed and salad (but the latter is 

 always dangerous for the Platycerci). In the autumn they had 

 service berries, and in winter dried juniper berries; all others 

 they rejected. They liked the fresh seeds of the sunflower 



