132 From Magazines, S^c. [^nf'o'ct 



soon came round to my bedroom. They kissed me and petted 

 me. They nestled at my neck and used to go to sleep there. 

 Daintier and more affectionate little pets one could not have. 

 If I mourned, they mourned with me ; if I were inclined for 

 fun they were as eager for a game as a kitten. They never 

 missed our meal hours, although free to go where they wished. 

 We often used to try and dodge them, taking afternoon tea in 

 different rooms ; but they always found out. It was very quaint 

 to see the two looking for us. ' Where are you ? ' ' Where are 

 you ? ' they would call, till at last we were discovered. After 

 three years one of them met with an accident and died ; the other 

 lived just two weeks longer — it literally died of a broken heart. 

 It used to go about calling ' Where are you ? ' ' Where are you, 

 my sweet ? ' but no answering call came. It scarcely left my 

 shoulder during the day, and at night it was so lonely in its cage 

 that I was really glad when it also died one morning in my hand. 

 After that I vowed I would never make such pets of any animal. 



" However, one day a little bundle of fluff, and eyes, and beak 

 was brought to me, and I, of course, took it and reared it also. 

 It was a jolly little fellow, and used to have great fun with the 

 cats and dogs. One big cat especially loved a game. He would 

 lie down on his back, and the bird would take a header into the 

 soft fur, and the fun used to be very great as they rolled over and 

 over. The cat would play for a long time with it. How often 

 have I wished I had had a camera in those days of fun and frolic ! 

 After I had this one a year, mates came round, and my little fellow 

 could not make up his mind which he would have. He treated 

 all alike, but at last he decided, and then he hunted all the other 

 little flirts most unmercifully. To this favoured one he kept 

 true year after year They were always together, and brought 

 many families to my care. Now I have so many that I cannot 

 say if he is still true to his first love. We had some very wet 

 weather after he chose his mate, and every evening they had a 

 few words, rather heated at times, over the camp for the night. 

 Jenny wanted to go to the trees, but Joey preferred the comfort 

 of his snug cage. Very often his word was law, and Jenny very 

 shyly dropped into the cage, which was never closed all day, but 

 only during night, us a precaution against wild cats and snakes. 



" My family has increased very rapidly. Uncles and aunts, 

 and every possible relative, soon flocked to my table. Seeing no 

 fear in my own birds, they soon got as tame ; the pictures show 

 how tame they are. None now sleep in the cage ; all sleep in 

 the hollow trees around, but by daylight they clamour for break- 

 last. They are fond of taking out my hair-pins, as you will see 

 by the photos. 



" When I went to town last week there was a girl on the coach 

 behind me. 1 noticed that she had a tin biscuit-box on her knee, 

 with holes cut in it. I asked her what she had, and, on hearing 

 that it was a bird, I said I hoped it was not one of my Parrots. 

 I gave my usual call, and immediately the answer came from the 



