138 



CHAPTER XL. 



TILE MADAGASCAfi LOVE-BIKD. 



THIS is a much nicer, more interesting, and hardier bird 

 than the Abyssinian, which it about equals in size: the 

 general colour of the plumage is bright green, but the head 

 and neck of the male are pale lavender: the female is uniformly 

 green, so that there is no chance in this case of manipulating 

 hens, as is said to have been done with the Budgerigar; 

 though I am strongly inclined to believe that such a paltry 

 fraud has never been practised to any extent, if, indeed, at 

 all. 



The Grey-headed Parrakeet, Agapornis cana, der graukopjige 

 Zwergpapagei, la Ferrache a tite grise, is a native of the island 

 of Madagascar, whence considerable numbers of these pretty 

 and interesting birds are annually imported into Europe, where, 

 however, especially in Holland, they are largely bred in 

 aviaries. 



Not long ago the White-headed Love-bird was very dear 

 in London, but he can now be purchased very nearly as 

 cheaply as the Budgerigar, or the Red-faced Parrakeet. I 

 have kept these pretty creatures for some time, but have not, 

 so far, succeeded in inducing them to make a nest, although 

 they seem to be in as perfect health, as they certainly are 

 in feather. Many other amateurs, however, have reared them 

 successfully, and a recent article in a tri-weekly newspaper, 

 describing their mode of nidification in the writer's aviary, 

 confirms the account given by Mr. Wiener of their peculiar 

 habits in this respect. 



"The Grey-headed Love-birds", says that graphic and 

 agreeable author, "construct a kind of nest in a curious way, 

 for they will tear wood into strips, and placing these strips 



