64 Favourite Foreign Birds. 



AUSTRALIAN LEMON-CREST, C. galerita, whilst some 

 extol THE SULPHUR-CREST, C. sulphur ea, a bantam 

 among the Cockatoos, for it is no bigger than a Grey 

 Parrot, and others THE GREAT WHITE COCKATOO, 

 C. cristata (illustrated at Fig. 21). This latter is the 

 largest of the Cockatoo family and is not a bad 

 talker, but its cries are deafening. 



THE MACAWS, Arina?, I have not said anything about, 

 and do not intend to enlarge upon their merits and 

 demerits, for they are too big to be general favourites, 

 and not sufficiently intelligent to compensate for their 

 destructive habits and intolerable shrieks. 



THE INDIAN PARRAKEETS, Palaeornithinae, are well 

 known perhaps the longest if not the best known 

 of all their race; but I cannot say much in their praise. 

 THE ALEXANDRINE is a fine big fellow, but no 

 beauty; while THE RlNG-NECK, Palasornis torquatus, 

 is pretty enough, but decidedly treacherous; THE 

 BLOSSOM-HEAD, P. cyanocephalus^ on the other hand, 

 is docile and pretty, but stupid, as a rule; and the 

 remaining members of the group, including the rare 

 MALACCAN or LONG-TAILED PARRAKEET, P. longicauda, 

 and HODGSON'S PARRAKEET, P. Hodgsoni (Russ), 

 call for no special remark. 



The Ring-neck and the Blossom-head have both 

 bred in captivity. 



Hemp, canary-seed, plain biscuit, maize, and nuts, 

 with clean water, coarse grit, and soft wood, will 

 keep them all in health and condition for many years. 



THE HAWK-HEADED PARROT, Deroptyus actipi- 

 trinus, is, without exception, the most delightful member 

 of the whole family; it is not a common species, even 



