Reviews.



329



Catleugh, who bred the species in 1884, does not describe the

colouring, but gives the number as five.


Is it possible that captivity can make so great a difference

in the colouring of eggs as to change them from bluish, spotted

with reddish-brown, to creamy-white, sometimes spotted with

buff? I think it more probable that the eggs obtained in Africa

belonged to a different, though perhaps nearly allied, bird. In

any case the number of eggs would have to stand as 3 to 6,

not 3 to 5,


More information is required upon this head.



REVIEWS.



“ PARRAKEETS.” *


Mr. Seth-Smith publishes another part, from my point

of view the most interesting and valuable we have yet had. It

would be worth while to get the book for the sake of this part.

For one thing out of the four plates given two are invaluable,

one of the Red-vented Blue-bonnet, and the other of the Golden-

Shoulder. Let me confess my ignorance ! The Red-vented Blue¬

bonnet is a revelation to me. I thought I knew something about

Parrots, but I did not know such a bird existed. Now I shall never

be happy till I have seen a live one. I fear that we shall be many

years before that is imported, but the other plate, that of the

Golden Shoulder is likely to be of direct use, because that bird

does come—and only rarely—the plate therefore is just one of

those that is a real “ boon and a blessing” to avicultural men.


Then again, Mr. Seth-Smith gives directions by which the

unlearned can distinguish between two species so alike as

P. zonarius and P. semitorqucitus. These are just the things

which make a book of use.


The present section is entirely confined to Australian

Parrakeets of the Broad-tailed family. This is probably the

most popular section there is. Their comparative freedom from



* Parrakeets, a handbook to those species kept in Captivity, by 13. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S.,

M.B.O.U. Part V. London: K. H. Porter.



