148



Red-shinmg and Tabuan Parrakeets.



As the little bird grew it became covered with down which

was grey on the body but yellowish-white on the head, neck, and

breast.


The legs now became of a grey colour with a slight purple


tinge.


The bill, which was bluish white, began to grow in length.


After three weeks the feathers commenced to appear, and at

the age of eight weeks the bird was fully feathered and could fly,

being almost the size of the adults.


The first feather dress is similar to that of the adults in the

breeding season, but the buff colour is not quite so brilliant and the

grey feathers of the upperside have buff edgings.


The naked skin of the face is not black but bluish, also the bill.


The legs and feet are grey with a purple tinge.


The bird is in splendid condition, and I think that I owe a

word of praise to my birdkeeper for the very perfect result he

attained.


At first the little bird had to be fed from the mouth, but as he

grew bigger he learnt to feed from the hand if it was held in a

certain way. At two months it would take worms from the ground,

but the meat and bread or fish had still to be given to it from the

hand.


The eggs are white with very few buff spots and are very long

in shape.


The third clutch consisted, as I mentioned above, of two eggs.

How many eggs there were in the two first clutches I cannot tell.


In the breeding season the old birds have rich buff heads and

necks, whilst in autumn, after the moult, these parts are nearly

white.


RED-SHINING AND TABUAN PARRA¬

KEETS.


Sir,


Our member, Mr. Colton, has kindly allowed me to make some

notes on the subject of three rare Parrakeets—two Red-shining and

one Tabuan—that he is expecting shortly to arrive in England. The



