307 



brown colour with only an indication of the markings 

 on tlie occiput and wing coverts. 



The Blue-bonnet Parrakeet is not so beautiful, 

 perhaps, as the jNIany-coloured, but it is even more active 

 and amusing. Canon Dutton calls it the " :\Ierry Andrew 

 of Parrakeets," and considers it the most charming of 

 all. According to my experience it is a hardy bird and 

 requires the same treatment as the Many-coloured. It is 

 a difficult bird to describe, the plumage presenting a 

 variety of shades of 3-ellowish-grey tinged with olive ; 

 the face and tlie edge of the wing are blue, the lower 

 part of the breast yellow, and the abdomen crimson. 

 The remaining species, the Red-rump Parrakeet, is quite 

 a common bird, and has been bred in considerable 

 numbers in captivity. It is very hardy and easily kept. 

 (To be continued) . 



THE WATER-RAIL IN CAPTIVITY. 



About the end of March, 1899, my brother-in-law 

 noticed a strange-looking bird in his garden, at Preston, 

 a suburb of Brighton. It was seen for a day or two, and 

 was in great danger of falling a prey to cats, although it 

 could fly and seemed in perfect health. One cat pursued 

 it persistently, and, to escape from this beast, it took 

 refuge in one of the green-houses, where it was caught. 

 It was brought to me to be identified, and remained in 

 my charge for three or four weeks. 



The bird was Ralliis aquaticiis, and I am at a loss to 

 understand why it should have wandered so far from the 

 marshy districts in which the species is usually found — 

 for there is no stream or lake within several miles of the 

 garden in which the bird was caught. 



I kept the bird in one of my small bird - room 

 aviaries, and fed it upon a mixture of Spratt's fine game 

 meal and crissel, slightly moistened with boiling water. 

 I usually added some ants' eggs and preserved ^t^^ to the 

 mixture, but doubt whether they were necessary. I also 



