i6o Some Notes on Keeping I'arrakecis. 



Some Notes on Keeping Parraheets. 



By The MARyuis of Tavistock. 



(Continued from page 120). 



I'OLYTELIS PARKAKEETS. 



A small Australian genus unfortunately rather rarely 

 imported; they are beautiful birds and, on the whole, hardy. 

 Although they stand close confinement rather better than 

 the Broadtails they need a lot of room for successful breeding, 

 infertility of the males being a common trouble where the birds 

 are kept short of flying exercise. Being much less aggressive 

 towards their own species than the Flatycerei, a number of pairs 

 may be kept together for the greater part of the year, and even 

 during the breeding season it may not always be necessary *o 

 separate them. The usual seed mixture sliould be provided, 

 together with sprouting oats and soft frtiit, such as grapes. A 

 liberal supply of fruit and green-food is specially desirable for 

 newly imported birds which are best kept rather short of hemp 

 and stmflower. Mealworms are often appreciated and are 

 useful during the breeding season and moult. 



Barrabaxd's Parrakeet (I'olytelis harrabiuidi). 

 Quite hardy when acclimatised, and can be wintered out 

 of doors. When newly imported, Barrabands are subject to 

 an incurable form of ophthalmia, which suddenly develojjs 

 without any apparent cause. Hens are also liable to become 

 suddenly paralysed in the legs, and the extreme difficulty of 

 obtaining this sex is due to the fact that the majority die while 

 yet in Australia. Treatment for this form of paralysis seems 

 to be of no avail, but if the affected bird retains partial use of 

 her feet she may be given her liberty and live happily for a lono^ 

 time, her general health being unaffected, and her wonderful 

 powers of flight unimpaired. Barrabands are usually mastered 

 by any j)arrakeets which are of a pugnacious disposition, but 

 they are rather bullies to such as are weaker than themselves 

 not actually killing them, but constantly worrying them and 

 driving them about. With birds of other orders they are 

 usually quiet but require watching. Young birds resemble the 



