304 



On the other hand, they should be watched from time to 

 time, to make sure that they do no harm to the other 

 occupants of their habitation. Not all, but most of those 

 I have thus kept, have ended b}' suddenly taking a 

 dislike to some unoffending Finch or Canary, and from 

 that moment there was no peace until one or the other 

 was removed. A strong cock Bullfinch can do some 

 mischief in the limited space of wood and wire, but in 

 such a dilemma the judicious partial clipping of the 

 wings would be justifiable, as it is not always convenient 

 to shut him up separately. Ai,bkrt RicTTICH. 



PARROTS AND PARRAKEETS. 



By Dr. C. vS. vSiMPSOX. 



(Continued from page 2^^) . 



PvRRHur.opsiS. — The Masked Parrakeet [P.Mr.sonata) 

 and the Red Shining Parrakeet (P. splendens) are the only 

 two species of their genus known in this country in 

 confinement. Five species exist, all of which are con- 

 fined to Fiji and the Friendly Islands. The Masked 

 Parrakeet is a splendid but somewhat stupid bird. It is 

 about eighteen inches in length, of a very rich velvety 

 green on the head, back, and wings, the face is black, 

 the middle of the breast yellow, and the abdomen orange. 

 The Red Shining Parrakeet is much like the King, bnt 

 the red of the breast is more crimson, and the beak is 

 black. In both species the sexes are alike. They appear 

 to be somewhat short-lived in captivity. 



The Broad-taiIvKD Parrakkets {Platyce)xus) com- 

 prise seventeen species which inhabit Australia and 

 Tasmania. About ten of these are kept as cage birds, and 

 of these the common Rosella, or Rose-hill Parrakeet, is 

 best known. The Broad-tails are essentially birds for the 

 aviary, as they are capable of endnring a considerable 

 degree of cold and are usually willing to breed, whereas 

 'in cages they are generally dull and uninteresiing. 

 Bauer's, or the Port Lincoln Parrakeet, I have found 



