Preely imported Species and Their Treatment. 1^3 



third filled with sawdust, and also of two trade nest boxes — 

 square boxes with a hole in the front and a hollowed bottom to 

 prevent eggs from rolling about, for nesting purposes. This year 

 they have taken considerable notice of the tubs, particularly of a 

 large one, slung right up in the open wire roof of the Tower. 

 They are constantly in and out of this and the others ; and much 

 chatter and some quarrelling goes on between the four birds ;* but 

 unfortunately the cock Pennant seem to have taken a fancy to the 

 Hen Rosella. He follows her about in preference to his proper 

 mate ; and I have several times seen him feeding her, she seeming 

 quite to reciprocate his attentions. But this, his selection, leaves 

 the other two unattached, as they show no sign of any intention 

 to console each other for the desertion of their proper mates. 



Whether I shall have any luck at all with either of these 

 pairs this year seems at present doubtful. 



Prolific Cockateels : My Cockateels are a most pro- 

 lific pair. I think they hatched out last year three clutches of 

 four to six each. Last X'mas they hatched out four, which despite 

 the weather all left the nest, and, after growing very slowly at 

 first owing to the cold, became quite normal and strong young 

 birds by the spring. One couple of these have gone -o the Tre- 

 loar Cripples' Home. They were sitting on another clutch of four 

 eggs as soon as the X'mas birds were out of the nest, ])ut of these 

 only two were hatched — very healthy birds. 



Tliey now (June 1st) have a further batch of six strong 

 birds just ready to leave the nest. There must have been eight 

 eggs as I removed one dead bird about a week after they were 

 hatched, and there was one infertile egg in addition. 



Since Decemljer therefore this one pair has nested thrice, 

 laid sixteen eggs, and hatched out and fully reared one dozen 

 young, all strong birds. There should be no difficulty, not even 

 to the novice, in breeding Cockateels, that is, if my experience is 

 at all usual. t I have had the male bird some four years. 



*Pennants and Rosellas seldom agree together during the nesting 

 period and unless the respective pairs are separated, I fear there will be 

 some disaster, before that season is completed. — Ed. 



JIndividual pairs are very erratic, some pairs seem only to play at 

 nesting, laying fertile eggs galore, yet sit so loosely that only an occasional 

 youngster is fully reared— again many other pairs are very prolific. The 

 above deduction is only based on instances where the accommodation given 

 to the respective pairs was all that could be desired. — Ed. 



