4,^2 CAiVAKIES AND CaGE-BfRDS. 



species is very- delicate, the natives in India feeding the birds mostly on rice in the husk, 

 and the sudden change to canary-seed, together with the change of climate, frequently proves 

 fatal. But if paddy-rice is procured, and these Parrakeets are gradually accustomed to eat 

 canaiy-seed, millet, Indian corn, and a little sponge-cake, besides rice, they will become very 

 hardy. Dr. Russ not only bred the Plum-headed Parrakeets once, but actually in three 

 generations. In 1877 Dr. Russ exhibited at the Crystal Palace a young pair of these 

 Parrakeets, together with their parents, all of which had been bred in his aviary. Gentle, but 

 not particularly talented, is all that can be said of the characteristic qualities of this bird, whose 

 name is derived from the delicate plum-colour of the head. 



MALABAR PARRAKEET [PalcEornis columhoides), South India. 



(Illustration drawn from specimen many years in Author's possession.) 



Psitlacus peristeroJes (Russ), Psittaciis mdanorhynchiis. No English dealers' name. German name — " Taubensittich." 



Young Malabar Parrakeets are very insignificant-looking bluish-grey and green birds, which 

 few would care to buy, wherefore dealers do not pay a price which tempts sailors and others 

 to import this Parrakeet. But any one becoming possessed of a young Malabar Parrakeet will 

 find himself owner of a treasure, for these gentle birds become year after year more beau- 

 tiful, until, in the course of three or four years, their plumage attains the perfection shown in 

 the illustration. I found the bird extremely gentle when by himself, but jealous in the 

 society or even within sight of other Parrakeets. 



UNDULATED GRASS PARRAKEET {MelopsHtacus undulatus), Australia. (Illustrated.) 

 Fsitlacus tindiilatus (Russ), N'anodes uiuliilaliis, Euphema imdulata, Sagittifer minor undulatus. English dealers' names — Bud- 

 gerigar, or Shell Parrot, or Zebra Grass Parrakeet. In Australia the birds are called : Budgerigar — a corruption of the 

 native name — also Shell Parrot, Canary Parrot, or Warbling Grass Parrakeet. German name — "Wellen Sittich," 

 or " Wellenstreifiger Sittich." French name — "Perruche Ondule." 



The Undulated Grass Parrakeet, Shell Parrot, or Budgerigar is so well known that a 

 detailed description of his plumage is superfluous. This miniature Parrot is about the size of 

 our Sparrow, but slender and of elegant shape, vivacious in his movements, and very intel- 

 ligent, yet good-tempered, and of great beauty. No wonder that this Parrakeet has become a 

 universal favourite, and the most popular foreign bird. 



In their native country the Undulated Grass Parrakeets are found in ordinary seasons 

 spread over immense districts, if sufficient rains favour the growth of grass, on the seeds 

 of which the birds live chiefly. Their favourite breeding-places are the southern parts of the 

 Australian Continent, and to these the birds flock in countless numbers, if plentiful spring 

 rains in September — October produce a sufficient crop of grass seeds towards the end of 

 October. If these rains do not occur, and drought should leave the ground bare of vegetation, 

 the Grass Parrakeets migrate north, where tropical rains and thunder-storms invariably produce 

 some amount of grass and seeds. It thus happens that in districts where one year thousands 

 of Grass Parrakeets are caught, not one is even seen in another year if drought occurs. 



Of late these birds are chiefly caught at the period of their migration, and I am informed 

 that, as is the case with many other birds, the males arrive first at the place selected for 

 breeding, the females following a little later. Immense flocks thus appear suddenly in certain 

 localities during October or November, and this is the time when the bird-catchers are chiefly 

 at work. Hundreds of Undulated Parrakeets will perch upon one tree, and dozens of pairs 

 may be found to nest in various holes, or even between the roots of the same old stump. 



