72



Notes on Barraband’s Parrakeets.



when alarmed. She flew strongly, and had little difficulty in

perching, or finding a more convenient resting-place when the first

branch she chose was too slender. Some days later I released the

cock just as it was beginning to get dark, my intention being that

he should go to roost at once and not have the chance of travelling

far on a full crop. He first settled on the top of his old home, but

soon became restless and swiftly took wing. How far would he go ?

As he readied the tall trees at the bottom of the garden the hen

called to him, and he swerved sharply to the right and joined her.

So far so good : he would go no further till the morning. The first

sounds that greeted me on waking next day were the shrill calls

of the Barrabands, sounding now from one part of the garden, now

from another. Occasionally I caught a glimpse of the birds darting

across the sky at a tremendous speed. The flight was powerful

and dove-like, and quite different from that of Broad-tails, or—except

when they were going slowly—from that of King-Necked Parrakeets.

After a time the hen grew tired and returned to a tree above the

aviaries, hut the cock continued to dash about like an emerald

meteor, coming down every now and then for a hasty meal on the

feeding-tray. As time went on the pair began to wander further

afield, but they have always returned regularly two or three times

a day. My chief fear in regard to them is Owls and misguided

“ sportsmen,” but so far they have escaped, and I hope may long

continue to do so.


One morning last week an Alexandrine and a Great-Billed

Parrakeet were sunning themselves on the top of an elm. Other

birds were similarly occupied some distance away, more than

half asleep. Suddenly a fowl, probably for some trivial cause,

broke into hysterical cackling. It is wonderful how birds from

every part of the world seem able to understand, from the very

first, each other's alarm calls! With a wild and doleful clamour

the Great-bill launched himself into the air; with him went

the Alexandrine. A hundred yards away a Pennant shot, dipping

over the meadow, uncertain which way to go, until she caught

sight of the cock Barraband and decided to join him. A moment

later the Alexandrine and Great-hill picked them up and the oddly-

assorted little party circled once and disappeared, the lamentations



