50 Sonic Notes on Keeping Parrakecis. 



of condition, would be reared! I never dreamed otherwise. 

 But alas ! there came a night when my spirits sank considerably 

 below zero ! It was the first day of November. The parents were 

 anxious to nest again, and I suppose thought it high time their 

 young should shift for themselves. Next morning I found 

 one of the two dead — the other flying, doing" so (apparently in 

 the best of health) for another week or ten days, when it also 

 succumbed. The old birds had built a new nest and obstinately 

 refused to feed their young the last thing at night, or to admii 

 them in to their nest, so they fretted and died. Had they been 

 fed a day or two longer, I feel convinced 1 should now be 

 the proud possessor of a couple of outdoor-aviary-bred 

 Gold-breasts. 



Of course the season was too late to expect such bird^ 

 to be reared, but I have strong hopes of being- successful next 

 season. 



I may add that in the same aviary 1 have been most 

 successful in breeding Bengalese and Zebra Finches, having 

 reared two nests of six and five of the former, and splendid 

 birds, too. 



Repr'uiied from " Bird Notes." J'ol ./, page 66 (igo2). 



<^t-K 



Some Notes on Keeping Parraheets. 



Platycerci ana Barnardii. 



By The M.^rquis of Tavistock. 

 (Continued from page ^o). 

 Corrigenda. — On page 29, line 2T) should read: for catching up sick birds: 

 also sparrows wliicli steal the food and run up an cxhorhitant food bill. 



RosELLA Parrakeet ( Platxecrcits e.vimins). 

 The Rosella is the commonest and most freely imported 

 broadtail and is certainly one of the most beautiful; few birds 

 can equal an old cock in brilliance and variety of plumag;^ 

 combined with perfect harmony of colours and delicacy or 

 marking". The sexes are much alike but the hen is usuall/ 

 considerably duller in colouring and has a sn"ialler head and 

 beak. She has also a few tiny greenish feathers round th-i 

 eye, which are always absent in the adult male and, as a rule, 



