Pakrakekts. 37 



The floor of tlie shed should be covered witli clean sharp 

 sand, and in one corner there should be a small heap of old linie- 

 niortar. 



If a fountain, with proper supply and drainage, is provided 

 in the outer flight, no water will be necessary in the shed, unless 

 the birds are for any reason shut in, when of course water must 

 be supplied in a clean dish such as a glazed flower-pot saucer. 



PART II. 



It is of course impossible in the space at my disposal to 

 deal with anything like all of the Parrakeets that the enthusiastic 

 student of these birds will have an opportunity of possessing, 

 providing he keeps touch with the dealers' importations and 

 private advertisements, so it will be best to deal briefly with the 

 most popular. 



The Bddgerigar {Melopsittacus wididahis) is the most 

 popular of all the Parrakeets, and it well deserves its fame, for it 

 possesses just those qualities which the aviculturist most desires, 

 namely, beauty, vivacity, hardiness and prolificacy. The only 

 quality it does not possess, and one which the more experienced 

 aviculturist looks for, is rarity. When the first of these little 

 Parrakeets were brought to this country, more than half-a-century 

 ago, they naturally commanded a very high price ; now, however, 

 about six shillings will secure a good pair. 



In one of the compartments of the aviary described, about 

 half-a-dozen pairs of Budgerigars could be kept. For food they 

 require only canary seed, and no artificial warmth is necessary in 

 the winter. It is desirable to separate the sexes from October to 

 the beginning of April, as otherwise they will breed practically 

 the whole year round, and the hens will be liable to die of egg- 

 biuding during the cold weather. Moreover, the nests get damp 

 in the winter and the young suffer. 



It is advisable to supply two nest-boxes for each pair of 

 birds so that there may be a choice of sites and quarrelling 

 will be avoided. 



The Budgerigar is almost too well known to need any 

 description. It is mostly bright green with black wavy cross- 



