Thk Cakk and Fkkding of Parrots. 65 



a railing and syiingeci, lie brings his wings conipletely forward 



in front, so that they actnally meet, whilst he ducks his head 



down on to his breast beneath his wings, as much as to say, " I 



like it on my wings, but I cannot stand it in my eyes and month." 



Certain species of Parrots must necessarily be kept in 



artificial heat during the cold months of the year, but it is 



astonishing what some, which one would think might be delicate, 



can stand. Parrakeets from Northern Australia are certainly 



tender. 



As for the nesting of Parrots in an aviary, the fewer there 



are the better, and in some cases one pair only is advisable. If 



the aviary is large enough, and they can be obtained, old hollow 



limbs of trees put up upon cross beams are helpful towards 



encouraging the birds to breed, but there are many ways of 



making nesting-boxes. 



Parrakeets like to get into semi-darkness to lay their eggs, 

 and if they can whittle the natural rotten wood within, all the 

 better. Whatever the hollow is. it must not be too spacious or 

 flattened where the eggs will be laid, or they ma\' roll out beyond 

 the paient bird. It is best to put nesting boxes of various sizes 

 and shapes, for what one pair of birds may take a fancy to, 

 another may not. 



All Parrots nest in hollow logs or l^anks, laying their eggs 

 in a depression on rotten and chipped wood, except perhaps the 

 Quaker Parrakeet, which builds a roofed nest ; whilst Love-Birds 

 (Agapofnis) nsa twigs, which they carry into a nesting-box or log. 



For Budgerigars cocoa-nut husks do well, but it is advisable 

 to either cleanse or destroy these after a while, for fear of red 

 mite, etc. within. In any case, the nesting-boxes must be roomy 

 enough for the young ])irds to keep in until their due time arrives 

 for flying, otherwise they may crawl out and fall down with 

 disastrous results, but the boxes must not be so deep that they 

 cannot get out at all. 



Parrots and Parrakeets will often take a year or more, and 

 even three or four before they nest, so that if anj' aviculturists 

 have a pair of birds about whom they are beginning to feel dis- 

 heartened in this respect, let them be patient and they may be 

 finally rewarded. 



