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insect life, it could now fend for itself ; but there is great difficulty in

inducing the young of purely insectivorous species to take to artificial food.


The young Wren conies out when the sun shines, but has keenly felt

the cold weather we have been having, and has spent much of its time

hidden away in the most sheltered shrubs. Doubtless at night the three

sleep together in the nest.


At p. 12, Vol. II. of the Emu, I find the following : — “Specimens of

the male Blue Wren were seen in August, and again in February, under¬

going the moult from the brown into the blue livery for summer and

vice versa.” In the wild state, therefore, the male is found coming into

colour in August for the Australian summer, and going out of colour in

February for the Australian winter. My bird is evidently somewhat mixed

in his mind as to the seasons, and cannot determine whether he ought to

stick to the blue and nest again or doff his brilliant jacket and retire into

private life.


I n Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, Mr. Campbell tells us that the

eggs are from three to four, occasionally five, in number, and are of a

delicate pinkisli-white, finely freckled (sometimes slightly blotched) with

reddish-brown or pinkish-red, the markings usually being thickest at the

larger end, where they generally form a zone ; and that the breeding

season is included in the months from August or September to January,

during which time it rears two or three broods. lie adds that the male

always retains his deep-bluish tail, while he may also be distinguished by

his darker or black bill.


I do not anywhere find any remarks on the plumage of immature

birds. The Spinster Aunt is happy with the Bee-eaters, cuddling at night

under the male, but always facing in the opposite direction. — R. P.J



ON THE BREEDING OF BARNARD’S PARRAKEET.


Bamardius batnardi.


By Mrs. Johnstone.


It is with much pleasure that I am able to record the

nesting of this very beautiful Parrakeet in my aviaries this

summer. It was really surprising that they realized the spring had

come at all, for it was the coldest and rainiest known on the E.

Coast of England for a great number of years. My Barnard’s

Parrakeets are a lovely pair, the cock and hen so alike and both so

brightly coloured that for some time I feared I had two cocks.

The hen I had recently purchased from a well-known member of

the Avicultural Society, and had assured her she had sent me a

cock bird. This wrong opinion was soon dispelled by the pair

taking possession of an old hollow tree, admirably adapted and

quite rain-proof; all the holes, with the exception of two small

natural holes, were covered over, the said holes being one about

4ft. above the solid part of the tree and the other quite at the top,

the whole trunk standing about 8ft. high. It was an old elm, the



