The Parrot Family. 53 



and soaked bread may be added when there are any 

 young ones to be fed. 



The eggs are white, and vary from three to nine 

 in number ; they are incubated in about sixteen days, 

 and the young hatch out in succession, so that as 

 much as eight days may intervene between the birth 

 of the oldest and the youngest member of the little 

 family. A cocoanut husk makes a capital nesting- 

 place : it should be hung up out of reach of mice, 



FIG. 14. THE RED-FACED LOVE-BIRD. 



and have the aperture, which should be at one end, 

 turned towards the light. 



The usual time for these birds to moult is in June 

 or July ; when the moult is over generally in August 

 they commence to breed, and continue to rear brood 

 after brood until about Christmas. They are perfectly 

 hardy, and may be kept all the year round in a properly- 

 constructed aviary out of doors, in which they will do 

 much better than if confined in a cage indoors. They 

 will live for twelve or fifteen years in the house. 



