parrots are almost all Sulphur-crested Cockatoos “presented” by

their owners !


The nicest I know I have promised to have when its

owner dies, and I am always in terror of hearing of her death.

It is intelligent, affectionate, amusing, miserable in a cage,

destructive out, and noisy when not being played with.


Russ seems unaware of any distinction between the sexes,

but I believe the eye test to be good, and that the males have

black eyes and the hens brown ( d ).



SOUTH AFRICAN CAGE-BIRDS.


By A. G. Butler, Ph.D.


(Continued from page 64).


As the Barbets have, of late }^ears, become somewhat

popular as cage-birds, it would perhaps be well to mention that

two of these pretty little fellows should be obtainable,—the

Black - collared Barbet ( Pogonorhynchus torquatus ), which is

common near Hast London, Graham’s Town, Eland’s Port,

Pinetown, and Rustenburg; also the Pied Barbet ( P. leucomelas)

which is a wide-ranging and not uncommon, though somewhat

local, species.


Of the South African Parrots the Rosy-faced Love-bird

(. Agafornis roseicollis ) is plentiful and gregarious 011 the Limpopo ;

Meyer’s Parrot ( Psittacus meyeri ) occurs commonly in the same

country and in Matabeleland ; Riippell’s Parrot ( P. rueppelli ) is

common in Damaraland.


One Fruit-Pigeon might perhaps be secured—Delalande’s

Green Pigeon ( Tver on delalandii) which is said to be not un¬

common at East London and has been shot in various other

localities. The S. African Speckled Pigeon ( Columba phceonota),

known as the Bosch-Duif or Wilde-Duif, is common everywhere,

aud could be obtained with ease; the Spotted Pigeon (C. arqua-

trix ) which has been seen in our Zoological Gardens visits the

Knysna towards the end of the year in large flocks and extends

to the Cape peninsula to feed on the berries of the wild olive.


(d) This is the case with all Cockatoos without exception — males

black eyes, females coloured more or less.


The most mischievous and amusing bird I ever knew was a large hen

Sulphur-crest.



