124 Some Notes on Keeping Parrakects. 



l)est plan is to release them hungry, in the early morning, near 

 food and a companion, in a place where they have lived for a 

 long" time. If they should stray they are (juite likely to b<. 

 caught a day or two later in a famishing condition, as they have 

 little idea of foraging for themselves, and an experience of this 

 kind often has a salutary effect on their future behaviour. A 

 bird which has grown attached to a i)articuhir place will sonie- 

 times stay there all its life, even without a companion. Many 

 people will remember 'the cock Ring-neck which frequented a 

 corner of Kensington (iardens for over four years; 1 provided 

 him with a mate some months before his death, and after he was 

 gone she stayed on in the same place until she joined him in a 

 better land. A single Broadtail, on the other hand, always 

 becomes a wanderer. • 



Palasornis Parrakeets will use an ordinary nest-box or 

 log, but are rather fond of one with a long spout for an entrance. 



They should be fed on the same seed mixture as Broad- 

 tails, with plenty of fruit, particularly soft fruit, which the> 

 much prefer to green food. Some species become fair talkers, 

 but the larger kinds, wdiich are the most accomplished, are apt 

 to screech. The majority of Palseornis Parrakeets stand cold 

 extremely well once they are properly hardened off, and should 

 be allowed to bathe at all seasons. 



Paheornis Parrakeets are subject to a beautiful form of 

 albinism in which the green feathers are replaced by canary 

 yellow, the pink alone being retained of the normal plumage. 

 " Lutinos," which are usually females, are quite as hardy and 

 prolific as normally coloured birds, and with patience and good 

 fortune it should be possible to establish a strain in captivity. 



The sexes of Pal?eornis, when adult, are easily disting 

 uished. but young male birds and females are much alike, and 

 the former, in some cases, are said to remain more than two 

 years in immature plumage. 



Indian Ring-necked Parrakkf.t (PaJcromis torquaia). 



A very common and well known bird; the adult male can 

 be easily recognised by his lilac collar and black throat 

 Ringnecks vary greatly in disposition when kept in mixed 



