382 THE WARBLING GRASS PARRAKEET. 



seem to appreciate his condescension as he wishes, and sometimes pecks him sharply in return 

 Dr. Bennett observes that the bird has some ventriloquial powers, as he has noticed a Grass 

 Parrakeet engaged in the amusement of imitating two birds, one warbling and the other chirping. 



The food of this Parrakeet consists almost chiefly of seeds, those of the grass plant being 

 their constant food in their native country. In captivity they take well to canary seed, and it 

 is somewhat remarkable that they do not pick up food with their feet, but always with their 

 beaks. It is a great mistake to confine these lively little birds in a small cage, as their wild 

 habits are peculiarly lively and active, and require much space. The difference between a 

 Grass Parrakeet when in a little cage and after it has been removed into a large house, where 

 it has plenty of space to move about, is really wonderful. 



This species has frequently bred in captivity, and nest-making is of very common occur- 

 rence, though it often happens that the female deserts her eggs before they are hatched. A 

 correspondent of a sport newspaper writes as follows: "Having been very successful in 

 breeding most of the common birds in cages, I was induced to try the Australian Parrakeet, 

 commonly known as the Grass Warbling Parrakeet, and I now have the pleasure of making 

 known to you what I consider my most extraordinary success. Between the 24th of December 

 last and the present month, I have reared eleven from one pair, and having watched their 

 habits very carefully, I venture to make a few remarks upon them. 



"They do not build a nest as most birds do, but must have a piece of wood with a rough 

 hole in the middle, and this they will finish to their liking. Let it be kept private, and let 

 them pass through a hole to the nesting-place. When the hen has laid, take the egg out, 

 putting a false one in its place till four have been laid. This should be attended to, as she 

 only lays on alternate days, and the young would be so far apart in hatching. By so doing 1 

 have ascertained the exact time of incubation, and have found it to be seventeen days. I 

 mention this, as persons might otherwise be led astray. These birds feed their young in the 

 same manner as pigeons; the young never gape, but the old ones take the beak in their 

 mouths, and by a peculiar process disgorge the food, which the young take at the same 

 moment. They begin to breed in December, that being their summer. The young are so 

 tame that they will fly after me anywhere." 



In another instance, mentioned in the same journal, the birds laid their eggs upon some 

 sawdust and there hatched two young, the number of eggs having been three. This Parrakeet 

 will breed more than once in the season. The young birds get on very fast after hatching, 

 provided that the room be kept warm and the parent well supplied with food. At thirty days 

 of age the young Parrakeet has been observed to feed itself from the seed-drawer of its cage. 

 Groundsel seems to be a favorite diet with them, but it seems that lettuce does not agree with 

 their constitution. With this exception, the Grass Parrakeet may be fed precisely in the 

 same manner as the canary. 



In its native land it is a migratory bird, assembling after the breeding season in enormous 

 flocks, as a preparation for their intended journey. The general number of the eggs is three or 

 four, and they are merely laid in the holes of the gum-tree without requiring a nest. 



The general color of this pretty bird is dark mottled green, variegated with other colors. 

 The forehead is yellow, and the head, the nape of the neck, the upper part of the back, the 

 scapularies and the wing-coverts are light yellowish-green, each feather being marked with a 

 crescent-shaped spot of brown near the tip, so as to produce the peculiar mottling so character- 

 istic of the species. These markings are very small on the head, and increase in size on the 

 back, and from their shape the bird is sometimes called the Shell or Scallop Parrot. On each 

 cheek there is a patch of deep blue, below which are three circular spots of the same rich 

 hue. The wings are brown, having their outer webs deep green, roped with a yellower tint. 

 The throat is yellow, and the abdomen and whole under surface light grass-green. The two 

 central tail-feathers are blue, and the remainder green, each with an oblique band of yellow in 

 the middle. 



The young birds have the scallopings all over the head, and the females are colored almost 

 exactly like their mate, who may be distinguished by the cere of the upper part of the beak 

 being of a deep purple. 



