54 Favourite Foreign Birds. 



THE RED-FACED LOVE-BIRD, Agapornis pullaria 

 (illustrated at Fig. 14), is a general favourite. It is 

 very different in appearance from the preceding species, 

 being short and squat of figure, with a short, broad 

 tail. The general colour is green, the forehead and 

 face orange-red, and the tail barred with red and 

 black. It is a native of South-western Africa, is about 

 the size of a bullfinch, and has not bred in con- 

 finement. It should be fed on boiled maize, and may 

 also have canary-seed and millet ; but if fed on the two 

 last alone, it will soon fall into a decline and die. 



THE PEACH-FACED LOVE-BIRD, Agapornis rosei- 

 collis, which bears a general likeness to the last- 

 named species, is also a native of South-western 

 Africa. It is, however, larger, being about the size 

 of a Siberian bullfinch, and its face, instead of being 

 red, is of a delicate peach-bloom colour. The tail is 

 marked in a similar manner to that of the Red- 

 face, but ( the beak, which in the latter is reddish- 

 orange, has a greenish-white tinge in the former. 

 The Red-face is a very silent bird, but the Peach- 

 face is an exceedingly noisy little creature ; and when 

 it chatters, its tail bobs up and down keeping time 

 with its rapidly-repeated note. 



This species breeds freely in confinement, but the 

 sexes are so exactly alike in appearance that it is 

 difficult to get a pair. The best nest is a small 

 hollow log with a hole at one end ; it should be 

 fixed sidewise in such a manner that mice cannot 

 reach it. Feed as recommended for the Red-face. 

 Both these birds are fairly hardy, but cannot be kept 

 out of doors all the year round. 



