178 The Marquess of Tavistock —


The Ceylon Wood Owl (Syrnium indranee) differs much in both sexes

throughout its range, as does our own Tawny Owl. In this country

it appears to be of three types, foxy red, brown, and ash grey, of which the

latter is the rarest locally. Every intermediate form of colouring occurs,

and it is extremely hard to find two alike. I think as a rule the foxy-red

individuals are inclined to be most numerous in the west, and the grey

in the east, but you may find both extremes in the same nest, or, rather,

in the same brood when they have got their complete plumage in August.


The Owls are so admirably equipped with their marvellous powers of

hearing and sight that there seems no reason to suppose that their voice

is used for any other purpose than that of communicating with one another

and a love son" a^ in other birds.



THE BREEDING OF THE PASSERINE

PARROTLET AT LIBERTY


By Marquess of Tavistock


There are certain birds which, while they do not succeed at liberty

on the first or second trial, nevertheless do not behave so badly that one

puts them down as hopeless. I have made three or four experiments

with Passerine Parrotlets, better known by their trade name of Blue-

winged Lovebirds. They are attractive little fellows, and the Kingfisher

will not give you a lovelier flash of colour than the cock as he flies across

the garden with his mate under the summer sun. But somehow I

could not get them to breed, and while they proved hardy enough when

over the effects of their journey and not such inveterate migrants and

wanderers as Budgerigars and Black-cheeked Lovebirds, their numbers

gradually dwindled until none at all remained. One pair lived through

a severe winter out of doors, in spite of the fact that the hen had a

damaged wing and could not fly properly ; but when summer returned

aDd I made sure they would nest, they, too, disappeared. During the

course of my early experiments I learned a few things about Bluewings

in captivity. (1) That it is fatal to keep them in a cage with varnished

woodwork ; they nibble the wood, and then it is good-bye. (2) That

they are fond of moistened stale bread or sponge-cake ; I could never



