3238 THE ZooLoGist—OcToBER, 1872. 
the bare board, but then they are apt to crack their eggs; this 
catastrophe is effectually prevented by the saw-dust. If the bottom 
of the aviary can be turfed and planted with a Chinese privet, or 
an Arbor Vite, so much the better; the birds enjoy the grass and 
turf, but most of the parrakeets, except the cockateels, will soon 
destroy the beauty of the shrubs. It is a good plan to have a 
portion of the top or roof merely of wire-work, as many birds 
thoroughly luxuriate in a summer shower, lying on their sides and 
expanding their wings to receive the welcome rain. Their 
drinking-vessels should be large and shallow, to enable them to 
bathe with ease. Canary-seed is the staple article of food; a little 
hemp may be given as a great treat occasionally: most birds are 
remarkably fond of it, but my cockateels and budgerigars will not 
touch it. A little Indian corn, or a handful of oats or wheat 
at times will make an acceptable change in the diet. I daily give 
them green food, in the form of groundsel, grass in seed, and 
chickweed; but newly-imported birds, fresh from the dealer’s 
hands, must be cautiously dealt with in the matter of green food, 
as they will generally eat it voraciously, and this is followed by 
looseness, which almost always ends in consumption: I have lost 
many rare and valuable birds by want of caution in this respect. 
After they have gradually become accustomed to it, | believe that 
a free use of green food is most conducive to their health. 
In such aviaries I have kept in perfect health and beautiful 
plumage :—king parrots (Aprosmictus scapulatus), red-winged 
parrots (A. erythroplerus), rosellas (Platycercus eximius), cocka- 
teels (Calopsitta Nove-Hollandie), blood-rumped _ parrakeets 
(Psephotus hematonotus), many-coloured parrakeets (P. multicolor), 
turquoisine parrakeets (Kuphema pulchella), elegant parrakeets 
(E. elegans), budgerigars (Melopsitiacus undulatus), Australian 
and Californian quails, crested pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes), and 
various species of the beautiful varieties of Australian finches and 
doves. 
Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus).—Mr. Newman has 
given such a graphic account of the breeding of the budgerigar, 
that I can add but little to it. I see we differ in the spelling of the 
name ;* but as it is the one used by the Australian natives, and 
* Betcherrygah is Mr. Gould's spelling; but I find it difficult to cite any other 
reliable authority. See Gould’s ‘Handbook of the Birds of Australia,’ vol. ii. p. 81. 
—E.N. 
