Some Notes on Keeping Parvakccts. 53 



young Adelaides. 



Yellow-rum pi:d Parkakkkt ( Platyccrcus favcolus). 

 This is a rare bird in captivity and not unlikely to become 

 extinct in its own country. Young" birds are said to be much 

 greener than adults, and the sexes may be distinguished by the 

 size of the head and beak. The only two Yellow-rumps I have 

 owned were extremely quarrelsome and one met its death, 

 while at liberty, in a battle with a Bauer's parrakeet. 



Yellow-bellied Parrakeet (Platycerciis fiavivcutris). 

 A Tasmanian species somewhat rarely imported which bears x 

 resemblance to the Yellow-rump, but may be distinguished 

 by its dark green wings and shoulders. The female differs 

 from the male in her smaller head and narrower beak and the 

 young have much greener breasts than adults. 



Mealy Rosella Parrakeet (Platyccrcus pallidiccps). 

 Somewdiat larger than the common Rosella; the female is a 

 little duller in colouring than the male, is slightly smaller and 

 has a smaller head and beak. Young birds have a faint 

 greenish wash over the entire plumage and the blue and yellow 

 feathers are consequently less brilliant. Some individuals have 

 a number of red feathers on the crown of the head, while in 

 parts of north Australia a pretty local race occurs with 

 deep blue cheek patches and a rather greenish back : this bird 

 is described by Gould as a distinct species — P. amathiisia; it is 

 not often imported alive. 



The Mealy Rosella is double-brooded. Both Mealy 

 Rosellas and Brown's have a violent antipathy to Blue-bonnet 

 Parrakeets. 



Brown's Parrakeet (Platycercus broicni). Certainly 

 one of the most beautiful of Australian parrakeets. The male 

 has a large and more brilliant patch of violet feathers on the 

 wing and possesses a heavier head and more powerful beak 

 than his mate. For some reason males are rare in captivitv, 

 and at any time the number of females to be obtained in this 

 country is out of all proportion to that of males. Consequentlv 

 one must be on one's guard against buying two hens as a pair. 

 The species is double-brooded under favourable conditions. 

 If kept at liberty Brown's are best caught up for the winter, 

 as they are hardly large enough to protect themselves against 

 owls. 



