PARROTS. 



middle pair are much longer than the others. The male measures about 12^ 

 inches, rather more than half of which is taken up by the tail. Its coloration, 

 without being very striking, is pleasing. The prevailing hue is dark grey, 



becoming much paler on 

 the upper tail-coverts ; 

 the forehead and cheeks 

 are lemon-yellow, while 

 the feathers of the crest, 

 which cannot be de- 

 pressed, are yellow at the 

 base and ^vi^j above. A 

 bright patch of reddish 

 orange on the ear-coverts 

 occupies the middle of 

 the yellow area, and the 

 median and great,er cov- 

 erts, as well as a portion 

 of the secondaries of the 

 wings, are ornamented 

 with a broad band of 

 white. The female lacks 

 the brilliant head-colours 

 of her consort. The cock- 

 atiel is found all over 

 Australia, with the ex- 

 ception of North-Eastern 

 Queensland, and associ- 

 ates in flocks of con- 

 siderable size. The 

 female lays from five to 

 seven, or even nine eggs, 

 in the incubation of 

 which the male takes a 

 full share. Strong in its 

 flight, the cockatiel is a 

 somewhat restless, and at 

 the same time a noisy 

 bird. Mr. W. T. Greene 

 writes that, " taken 

 when about half- fledged 

 from the nest, and brought up by hand, or rather by mouth, the young male 

 cockatiel becomes the most charming pet that can be imagined ; in point of fact, 

 there is scarcely any accomplishment that he cannot be taught. He will perform all 

 manner of little tricks, such as kissing his mistress, pretending to be dead, flying 

 out of window, and returning at the word of command : and he will also learn to 

 repeat, with great distinctness, not only words, but short sentences, and even to 



COCKATIEL. 



