Practical Bird-Keeping .— VIII. Parrots. 377


And in Australia, where Parrakeets are often far from

water through a great part of the day, there must be a certain

amount of dew-drenched grass through which they run and

scramble when seeking their breakfast. Parrots’ feet too keep

in better condition if they are syringed.


Not long ago, I received a pair of Hooded Golden¬

shouldered Parrakeets from the Continent. They are acclima¬

tized birds, and it was delightful to see how, when I hooked a

roomy bath on to their cage, they lowered themselves into the

water and splashed and splashed. One felt the vibrations of their

pleasure very strongly. But newly-imported birds must not be

treated in this way, not at least until they are thoroughly strong

and decidedly healthy, by which time they have probably ceased

to be newly-imported!


As to the food of Parrots, taking first of all such families

as those of the Macaws, Cockatoos, Amazons, etc., some people

recommend boiled maize as a staple supply, but they usually do

well upon a good Parrot’s mixture of various dry seeds, such as

sunflower, oats, maize, etc. Besides this, a little Marie or Albert

biscuit put in a mixture of three equal parts of boiled milk,

barley-water, and water, and pressed fairly dry, is good ; and this

in cold weather may be given warm in the morning. Fruit too

of every kind, of course. Bananas, apples, pears, oranges, grapes,

figs, etc. A piece of boiled potato occasionally, seems to be

appreciated, and also a bunch of chickweed or a lettuce leaf in

season. Some wood, somewhat decayed, is knawed to pieces

with much interest, and I sometimes put some coarse grit in the

seed-pan.


But these Macaws and Parrots should not have coffee or

tea or rich cake, as are offered them, and certainly not meat.

Parrots do not need to be feeding all day, for in a wild state I

believe they sit for hours during the heat of the day, snoozing

amongst the deep foliage of the trees, feeding chiefly in the

morning and towards evening.


The smaller Parrots and Parrakeets (I am not writing

about Lories, the Brush-tongued Parrakeets, for I prefer to leave

that task to someone who has had more experience than I have,

although I might say en passant that they need the mixture of



