The Queen Atexandra Parrahet. 21^ 



and delights in swooping down on to my shoulders, where 

 lie tells me many secrets, although not exactly whispered 

 ones, by placing his l3ill almost in one of my ears, and whistl- 

 ing •' Joey Joey " Tor a quarter of an hour at ci time. A silver 

 l^ox and a large silver flower bowl are great attractions to- 

 wards -which he never fails to be drawn, for in them he sees 

 his reflection. Tightening all the body feathers, and stretch- 

 ing up his head, he jumps forward with scintillating eyes, and 

 bobs up and doAvn; and then placing his bill close to that of 

 the bird he supposes he sees, he moves the mandibles quickly, 

 uttering noises which sound uncommonly like human kisses! 



If I attempt to push him away, he goes for me, run- 

 ning excitedly about and opening and closing his win|gs, 

 screaming indignantly. 



If he does not wish to return to his cage and he sees 

 that I am of the contrary opinion, he flies off saying very 

 decidedly by the tones of his voice " Oh, do leave me alone, 

 how you do bother I" 



In an outdoor aviary I have not found these Parrakeets 

 to be 'delicate, indeed I may say they are fairly hardy. I 

 have kept a g[3air for some years in an aviary with no artificial 

 heat whatever, but only a cosy roosting-house, the door of 

 which, however, was always open in the worst of weather, 

 not only by day but also at night. 



The Alexandras have a way of sitting looking as if 

 they were decidedly poorly, and will then suddenly rouse them- 

 selves and become alert; but it is a tiresome habit, because 

 a bird that does this may cry " wolf " once too often. 



They have not yet bred in Europe, indeed their numbers 

 are decidedly limited, but mine have nested for several years 

 in succession, and even three times in one season. 



Mr. Fasey's birds have also got as far as eggs, I be- 

 lieve, and he raised a hybrid between an " Alexandra " and a 

 Eock Pebbler, if I mistake not. 



[N.B. — Birds of difl'erent families do interbreed some- 

 times 1 ! ] . 



I believe that if three or four pairs of these birds 

 could be kept in an aviary to themselves, they would be more 

 likely to breed successfully, as they naturally nest in little 

 colonies. 



