228 



FOREIGN BIRDS FOR CAGE AND AVIARY. 



yellow oil the rump aud upper tail-coverts ; lesser wing- 

 i;overt« mingled verditer green and blue ; greater 

 toverts rich reddish chestnut ; basal half of the external 

 webs of the primaries and secondaries and edge of the 

 wing rich indigo blue; under surface of the shoulder 

 light, indigo blue ; inner webs and tips of the primaries 

 dark brown ; apical half of the extei nal web of the 

 primaries fringed with grey ; two centre tail feathers 

 light olive-green, passing into deep blue at the tip, the 

 remainder deep blue at the base, largely tipped with 

 white, the blue gradually blending with the white on 

 the external web ; upper part of the abdomen and flanks 

 primrose yellow ; centre of the abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts crimson-red ; irides dark brown ; feet mealy 

 brown ; bill horn-colour. The female differs in being 

 smaller and less brilliant in all her markings." (Gould.) 

 The beak of the female also appears to be smaller and 

 shorter than in the male. Hab., Interior of New South 

 Wales. 



As regards its habits, Gould says : "I met with it 

 in tolerable abundance in the neighbourhood of the 

 Lower Namoi, where it appeared to give a decided pre- 

 ference to those parts of the plains which were of a 

 loose mouldy character, and with which the colour of 

 its back so closely assimilates as to be scarcely dis- 

 tinguished from it. Like the other members of the 

 family, it is mostly observed in small flocks, feeding 

 upon the seeds of the various grasses abounding on the 

 plains. ' ' 



As might be expected from this account, canary, 

 millet, and a few oats should form the staple seeds in 

 captivity, but a little hemp may be added with advan- 

 tage. It is fond of gnawing green branches of poplar 

 or other wholesome trees ; plum or apple would probably 

 please it well. 



The eggs of this bird niunber about seven, are pure 

 white without gloss ; they are deposited in hollow- 

 branches of Eucalyptus. 



The greatest caution must be exercised in associating 

 this Parrakeet with others, as it is very liable to run 

 amuck amongst smaller and weaker associates, which it 

 murders most ruthlessly. On the other hand, it is 

 hardy, amusing, intelligent, and graceful, though I 

 cannot admire its patchy and inharmonious colouring. 



According to Russ, a female of this Red-vented 

 species in the possession of the late Joseph Abrahams 

 laid eggs, by which means he was able to decide its 

 se.x. He tells us also that in 1882 Mr. Jamrach had a 

 snow-white Blood-vented Parrakeet, only with a blue 

 cap and red breast patch. According to the late Mr. 

 Wiener it is a pleasing, playful and most intelligent 

 bird. It would seem, however, from what Mr. Seth- 

 Smith tells us. that Mr. Wiener's example was inter- 

 mediate between this and the next species. 



The Zoological Society of London first purchased the 

 species in 1852, and subsequently they added others to 

 their collection ; now it seems not to come to hand. 



Yellow-vented Blue-bonnet Parr.\keet 

 (Psephotus xantJwrrhous). 



Differs from the preceding species in the olive-yellow 

 (instead of reddish chestnut) patch on the wing-coverts, 

 the deep blue lesser coverts, the better defined yellowish 

 crescent on the front of the ear-coverts, the more dis- 

 tinctly mottled breast, and the yellow (instead of red) 

 under tail-coverts ; beak pale horn-colour ; feet mealy 

 brown. Female probably with a smaller beak than the 

 male. Hab., "South Australia." (Salvadori.) 



Mr. A. J. Campbell (" Nests and Eggs of Australian 

 Birds," p. 644) says : " The Yellow-vented Parrakeet, 

 or the ' Blue Bonnet ' of the bird-catchers, is chiefly 

 found in the interior portions of New South Wales and 



Victoria, notably on the plains of the Murray and 

 Riverina, where it retires to the belts of timber to 

 breed. It is also found in South and Western 

 Australia." When flying through the belts of timber 

 in pairs or small flocks, their voices are harsh and grate 

 upon one's ears. 



■' I first received eggs from Mr. G. H. Morton, 

 Benjeroop, 1883, and the following season I myself 

 found the species nesting in the belts of timber near 

 Pyramid Hill, where, on the 8th October, seven young 

 ones, about three or four weeks old, were taken from 

 a nest. 



"Apparently these Parrakeets are not always easily 

 flushed from their nests. Mr. Morton tells me he 

 has taken eggs from under the sitting birds." 



On p. 643 Jlr. Campbell thus describes the nidifica- 

 tion : "Nest. — Within a hole or hollow, tisually in a 

 box-tree {Eucalyptus), growing in belts of timber on 

 the plains ; also reported to breed in the cliffs of the 

 Lower jMurray River. Eggs. — Clutch, five to seven 

 usually, ten maximum; round in shape, texture of 

 shell fine, surface glossy, colour pure white. Dimen- 

 sions in inches of a clutch : (1) 1.0 x -84, (2) .94 x -84, 

 (3) .94 X .8, (4) .92x.84, (5) .92x.82." 



This is one of the most dangerous Parrakeets to asso- 

 ciate with other birds in an aviary, as everyone who 

 has kept it testifies. It appears to have been bred 

 many years ago by Mr. A. Johnson, of St. Olave's 

 Grammar School, and Russ mentions that a female 

 in the possession of Messrs. Seitter, of Ludwigsbvu'g, 

 laid eggs. The species is not mentioned in the London 

 Zoological Society's List, but possibly it may have been 

 wrongly identified as "P. hcemtitogaster " (hama- 

 torrhous). It is well known as an imported species 

 under the name of "Blue-bonnet." 



Beautifvl Parrakeet {Psephotus pulcherrimus). 



Tlie male has a frontal band of scarlet, which fades 

 into pale yellow round the eyes, lores, and chee'ks, the 

 latter gradually shading into the green of the tinder- 

 partis; tlie crown and nape are blackish-brown, lading 

 into greyisih-ibrown on the back ; the sides of the neck 

 and shoulders bluish-gi-een with yellowish reflections; 

 the rump and upper tail-coverts greenish-blue, the 

 longer covei-ts with black terminal viands; a spot of 

 vei-milion on slioulder of iring ; the primaries and 

 eecondaa-ies black, edged with green above and blue 

 below; two middle tail-featheiis olive-brown, bluer 

 towards the tips; the thi'ee outer lateral feathers witli 

 a zigzag black band, oeyond which they are greenisli. 

 blue to the tips, the inner webs almost white at the 

 tips ; throat and chest emierald-green, each feather with 

 a bluish tip ; middle of breast and flanks greenisli-blue ; 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts ecarlet ; beak horn- 

 colour, blac-ki&h towards the base ; feet yellowish-brown ; 

 iris dark brown. 



Tlije female is smaller and duller than the male, with 

 little or no red on the forehead, less on the wing- 

 coverts, abdomen, and vent ; all the bright golden-gi-©en 

 in the plumage is replaced by pale brassy-yellowish, 

 flecked or barred with golden oohii'e or red. Hab., 

 Eaetem Australia, from Port Denison to New South 

 Wales. 



This eiwciee frequents upland grassy plains, where it 

 is obsei-ved in small fiooks feeding upon the seeds of 

 grasses and other weeds. It nests in the hollow branches 

 of trees or the deserted burrow of Leech's Kinigfisher ; 

 sometimes in that of Macleay's Kingfi.'^hea-, tunnelled 

 into the nest, of the white ant. The eggs are white and 

 three to four in number. 



Mr. Wiener evidentlv regards this bird as very deli- 

 cate, but Mr. Seth-Smith is of opinion that ite supposed 



