436 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



TURQUOISINE PARRAKEET {Euphema puUheUa), New South Wales. 



(Illustration drawn from specimens lent by J. C. Marsh, E^q.) 



Psi/laciis puhheUus (Russ), Psitlacus Edwardsii, Nanodes pidchdlits, La/hamus azurais. English dealers' name — Turquoisine. 



German name — "Schon Sittich. " 



This handsome Parrakeet is very little larger than the Undulated Parrakeet, and quite as 

 lively and interesting. Unfortunately most of them arrive in poor condition and minus part 

 of their plumage, in which state the birds are delicate ; but if quietly housed in a clean cage 

 and supplied with good canary-seed, the Turquoisine Parrakeets recover in a few weeks, and 

 are then perfectly hardy birds, which may safely be placed in any out-door aviary, and which 

 will breed freely, laying from four to eight eggs. In the London Zoological Gardens some 

 were first bred in i860, and since that time thousands have been bred elsewhere. Their 

 treatment should be like that of the Undulated Parrakeets. 



BOURKE'S PARRAKEET (Euphema Bourkii), Australia. 



(Illustration drawn from specimen in the possession of Mr. Joseph Groom.) 



Psitlacus Boiirki (Russ), Nanodes Bourkii, Puitycacus BouiH. English dealers' name — Bourke's Parrakeet. German name — 



" Bourk Sittich." 



This delicately tinted Australian Grass Parrakeet is one of the most gentle birds of the 

 Parrot tribe. It is much tc be regretted that the Bourke's Parrakeet is so rarely imported, 

 and therefore very dear to buy. If once acclimatised the birds are very hardy and breed 

 freely. Mr. Groom, of Camden Town, London, had the best pair which I ever saw, and kept 

 them summer and winter in one of the open-air aviaries of his own construction, where the 

 birds hatched a brood of young. I quote Mr. Groom's report verbatim : — " The egg of the 

 Bourkii is about the size of a Turquoisine's egg, of roundish shape. The male bird assists in 

 the incubation. Time, about seventeen days. Nest in wood log hollowed out for them, as 

 they do not appear to have the power to cut away the wood like most Parrakeets do." 



The three next Australian Parrakeets are considerably larger than the Grass Parrakeets, 

 and of very gorgeous plumage. Their colours are, if anything, too loud to please all tastes, 

 but the illustrations will speak for themselves. 



They are easily obtainable at moderate prices (fifteen to thirty shillings each), and are 

 kept solely on account of their great beauty. Gentle and confiding creatures, they are not 

 very intelligent. Being very hardy, they may be kept easily on all kinds of seed, and are 

 best fed on a mixture of oats, hemp, canary-seed, and Indian corn. Some writers assert 

 that Pennants, Rose-bill, and other Parrakeets feed partly on insects ; but I consider this asser- 

 tion, for many reasons, open to doubt. Be that as it may, during breeding-time — viz., January 

 to April— some soaked bread, oatmeal, and milk, and a little &%^ may be given with advantage, 

 and it will be found that all these Parrakeets are not difficult to breed. Male and female are 

 so much alike that no absolute distinguishing marks can be named. 



PENNANT'S PARRAKEET {Platyca-cus Pennanti), New South Wales. (Illustrated.) 

 Psitiacus Pennanti (Russ), Psitlacus gloriosus, Psitlacus splendidus. English de.alers' name — Pennantes, or Pennant's Parrot. 



German name — " Pennant's SiUich." 



ROSE-BILL PARRAKEET (Platycercus eximius), Nf.w South Wales. (Illustrated.) 



Psitlacus exiinius (Russ), Psitlacus copilatus, Psitlacus oninicotor. English dealers' name — Kosella. German name — " Bunt- 



sittich. " 



PALE-HEADED PARRAKEET {Platycercus pallidiceps), North-east Australia. (Illustrated.) 



P.Ulacus palliceps (Russ), Platycercus palliccf's, Platycercus ca-lestis, Conuru^ palliceps. English dealers' name— Blue Rosell.1. 



German name — *' Blasskopfiger Buntsitlich." 



