So)uc Notes on Keeping Parrakeeis. 189 



line their nests with strips of soft bark, straw, etc. They will 

 nest readily in very small aviaries and flig"ht cages, but pine 

 awav in small cai^es. where they are not allowed to nest. 



Pkacii-fackd LovEiURi) ( A gapoDiis roscicollis). 



A sprightly and beautiful bird, prolific and hardy, but 

 noisy for its size, and very vicious in mixed company. 

 Breeding pairs must also l)e kept separate from one another. 

 Peach-faces will nest in a cage a few feet square, but if kept too 

 short of exercise are a])t to be infertile and take to feather- 

 plucking. They should be supplied with fresh groundsel when 

 rearing young, but as a rule refuse green food at other times. 

 The sexes are much alike, but the hen is generally a trifle less 

 brilliantly coloured, has a smaller " blaze," and the green cap 

 comes down lower over the eye 



RKn-FACKD Lovebird ( Agapovnis piillaria). 



Much resembles the peach-face in disposition, but is more 

 sensitive to cold and is far less ready to breed. It is generally 

 delicate when first imported. The cock has black feathers 

 underneath the wing, and usually a much brighter red face than 

 the hen. 



Black-cfieeked I-.ovep,ird ( Agapornis nigrigcnis). 



A hardy and amusing little bird resembling the budgeri- 

 gar in disposition in almost every respect. It is a very free 

 breeder, but the sexes are indistinguishable. The Black- 

 cheeked Lovebird nests freely at liberty, but the majority 

 migrate in late August and September. 



Madacascar Lovep.ird (Agapornis cana). 



Has often been wintered out of doors, but is liable to 

 contract incurable lung trouble if left out in bad weather. The 

 Madagascar is much more quarrelsome than the Black-cheek, 

 but not so bad as the Peach-face. It breeds freely in confine- 

 ment and at liberty, but in a state of freedom is very liable to 

 become paralysed in the legs; why, I cannot imagine, as I have 

 never known it to be similarly affected in captivity. The male 

 has a grey head and can be distinguished from the female almost 

 from the time of leaving the nest, the female's head being green. 



