30



Correspondence.



nest with a quantity of feathers, I suppose to keep the eggs from the damp

soil. I should think the burrow would be from twelve to fifteen inches

long.


I have been rather short of husks, so this may acccouut for them

having to adopt what I consider a novel idea.


Hoping this may iuterest some of the members. *


R. Franklin Hindle.



THE GOLDEN-SHOULDERED PARRAKEET.


Psephotus chrysopterygius .


Sir,—W ill you be so kind as to tell me if I am treating a pair of

Golden-shouldered Parrakeets correctly?


I have had them for a few days, and they are very lovely ; and I am

naturally very anxious to get them through the winter well. They are in

very good condition, and do their importer much credit.


I am giving them canary seed, white and spray millet, rock salt,

cuttle-fish bone, and flowering grass. They are in a box cage, in a warm

room, with no fire, but next a bright conservatory.


I believe you have had these birds; and if you can help me in any

way as to their treatment I shall feel much obliged.


Can you tell me also if any others were imported ? these w r ere brought

over privately for me. M. A. Johnstone.


The following reply was sent to Mrs. Johnstone :


You are indeed fortunate in having secured a pair of the rare and

beautiful Golden-sliouldered Parrakeets.


You will find a coloured illustration of a pair, and a short account of

the species, at page 153 of Volume IV. of the Avictiltural Magazine; and a

further account of one of the females nesting (with a Red-backed Parrakeet)

will be found on page 157 of Volume V.


So far as I know , none of these birds has been imported since 1897.

Excepting the pair secured by the Zoological Society, all the specimens I

saw were females. I obtained two ; and the one which I wrote about on

the two occasions quoted is still alive and well.


She has been flying loose in the aviary and birdroom, and feeds on

what she likes. As far as I can see, she behaves like the Many-coloured

Parrakeet, and is just as easy to keep.


Although so "well seasoned, she does not like cold weather. During

the winter months, the birdroom is kept warm. O11 a fine day, the window



* Very interesting; but, to my mind, the point of peculiar iuterest is that the nest

should have been lined with feathers.—R.P.



