stoppage of any kind. With wheatmeal biscuit, the hardest bits of toast-

crust, etc., she seems to have got into a fairly healthy state, and ought to

do now. Sometimes I have given fluid magnesia in the drinking-water,

and sometimes sulphate of iron.


She is in the dining-room, and at breakfast her cage-door is opened,

and she at once makes for the bread—I never let her have crumb, only the

hard crust. Soft things like butter and marmalade she does not like. I

encourage her to drink fairly hot water out of the slop-basin : she takes a

good deal and I think it is good for her. She likes to go for the plants in

the window (when I am attending to her cage—never at meals), but only

attacks some creepers (I forget the name)—but out of regard for the plants

I take her away, literally by force,—so possibly a taste of green food might

be beneficial. R. Phituipps.


Sir,—I add a post-script to the above letters. I have come to the

conclusion that Horned Parrakeets are seed-eaters, but that these arrived

with impaired digestions. Had I treated them as you would treat a person

recovering from starvation, I might have saved them. They ought to have

been kept chiefly on sop, and allowed to have seed only very gradually.


My bird is still alive, but it gets neither better nor worse. It is

lively, though not tight in plumage, and the tail is not reproduced. I think

some benefit has resulted from my administering dialysed iron in the water.


Mr. Phillipps thinks he has distinguished the sexes. I did not find

myself successful in so doing. The first two sent me as a pair, and which

I thought myself were a pair, proved to be two cocks. Of the other four

young ones, one which was much smaller than the others and looked very

feminine, was a male; of two others, larger than the rest which I con¬

sidered two males, one was male and the other female.


F. G. Dutton.



LOGS AND NEST-BOXES FOR PARRAKEETS.


Sir, —When I first commenced breeding Parrakeets, I experienced

some difficulty in procuring the above in the various sizes required, and

well adapted for the purpose. I venture, therefore, to send you the

enclosed sketches and notes, hoping they will be of use to members of

the Society who may be experiencing the same difficulty.


In my own aviary I generally put logs and boxes, but so far have

had more young reared in the boxes than in the logs, although the latter

■were made to order and are of an unusually large size. The boxes, as

described, I frequently make myself, and as a box of about the required

size can generally be got from the grocer for a few pence, and the wooden

bowl for about the same amount, the cost of the box complete is but a

trifle. No exact dimensions can be given, nor are they necessary, for I find

as regards the box, a Parrakeet is not particular to an inch either way.


The following sizes are about what is required, but if any difference,

rather larger than smaller.


BOWL. BOX.


For Budgerigars ... 3 ins. diameter, 1 in. deep ... 8 ins. long, 4J- wide, 6 high.



Turquoisines



4 „



„ il » ..



— 9 ,»



„ 5



7



Red-rumps



4 i „



„ il „



... 10 ,,



„ 6



8



Rosellas



5 i ..



if „



... 12 ,,



„ 8



10



Crimson-wings ...



6 „



„ 2 ,, ,.



... 14 „



9



, 12



