Sonic Notes on Keeping Parrakects. i6t 



female in plumage for the first year. Barrabands are charmini;' 

 birds at liberty, their flight being- more rapid and graceful than 

 that of any other land bird I know; the plumag:e of the cock 

 which attains a wonderful gloss and brilliance in freedom, he 

 never quite g^ets even in the best-kept aviary. Unfortunately, 

 however. Barrabands are not sul^ciently powerful biters to be 

 able to defend themselves when attacked by owls, and it is 

 therefore necessary to catch them up as soon as the trees get 

 bare. When a pair of birds are to be released the hen should 

 be caught up one evening- and placed in a cage without food, 

 out of sight of her mate. Next morning food should be put 

 on the top of the cock's aviary, and the hen let out a few yards 

 away. When she has had several days in which to learn her 

 way about, the cock may be allowed to join her. On no 

 account should the cock be released first, as the hen. on being 

 let out for the first time, may fly clean away and take him with 

 her. 



Black-tatled Parrakeet fPolytclis melanura) . 



All that has been said of the Barraband applies equally 

 to the Black-tailed Parrakeet or Rock Pebbler, except that the 

 liens do not seem to be so subject to paralysis, and the species 

 is more amiable towards weaker birds. When acclimatised 

 the Black-tail shows a wonderful fondness for rain, even of the 

 most cold and disagreeable variety. The hen can be easily 

 distinguished by being olive green in those parts of the plumage 

 where the cock is yellow. 



Queen Alexandra's Parrakeet (Spathoptenis Alcxandrae). 



A rare and beautiful species which resemble the Polytelis 

 parrakeets in shape and flight, but not much in habits. It should 

 be fed like the Polytelis, but it is not quite so hardy, and requires 

 a well-drained aviary and a snug winter shelter: where these 

 are lacking it should be brought indoors during the cold 

 weather. The cocks seem to take no interest in their young, 

 and exhibit, very often, polygamous tendencies. 



Queen Alexandras are easily tamed by " cupboard love,'" 

 and soon learn to fly to their owner and take food from the hand. 

 The female can be distinguished by her much duller rump and 



