220



Practical Bird-Keeping, — /V. Parrakeets.



Bird escapes destruction, and that during the early part of one

season no less than 300,000 Albatrosses were slaughtered on one

small island, and the remainder only saved by the timely arrival

of a revenue cutter. No species in a state of nature can long

withstand such destruction, nor are we better than vandals to

countenance it. Although not, strictly speaking, an avicultural

subject, the wider the facts are known the better, and all lovers

of birds should read this pamphlet and learn the by no means


pleasant facts. -


Books received: Ornamental Waterfowl by Hugh Wormald ;

Nests and Eggs of Birds found breeding in Australia and Tas¬

mania, Vol. Ill , Part I., by Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S. ; British

Birds, April, 1911.



PRACTICAL BIRD-KEEPING.


IV. PARRAKEETS.


By D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S.


The keeping and breeding in captivity ot Parrakeets has

for long been a favourite hobby, for, taken as a whole these birds

are hardy, easy to keep and very showy.


I11 a popular article it is not possible to go very fully into

the habits and requirements of the various and very numerous

species of the smaller Parrots which are known as Parrakeets

or Paroquets, so I propose to divide this paper into two parts, the

first dealing with the kind of aviaries most suitable for these

birds, and the second with the birds themselves.


Aviakies for Parrakeets.


The best type of aviary, in the opinion of the present

writer, is that consisting of a well lighted covered shed or house,

opening into a large wire flight containing a drinking fountain

or large bath and a turf lawn. If many species of Parrakeets

are to be kept, a range of such aviaries should be erected with a

southern aspect, compartments being divided off for each pair of

the larger kinds.


Regarding the size of such aviaries. This of course must

be governed by the available space, but as a general rule the

covered portion should not be less than eight feet square and ten

feet high. If larger than this, so much the better.



