THE



Hvtcultural Ylfoagastne,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


A V! CU LTU RAL SOCIETY.



No. 10.



AUGUST, 1895.



OUR BIRDS.


IV.


BARRABAND’S PARR ARE FITS (Polytelis BarrabcuuU.)


By O. Ernest Cressweee-


This Australian Parrakeet is, I believe, now placed scientifically in

a genus by itself, though Gould classed it with the Polytelis Melanura ,

commonly called the Rock-Peplar. It is certainly rare in this country,

for I never remember to have seen Barrabands offered in the list of any

dealer, nor have I seen them In any of the living collections that I have

visited on the Continent. The reason of this is said to be, that they seldom

survive the voyage, from requiring a peculiar diet. This I am inclined to

doubt, for my own pair keep well on very simple food, and have now been

in England about 18 months.


My acquisition of those in my possession was, in any case, a piece of

luck, for I find them most amusing and full of character; but specially shall

I think it so if they turn out to be a pair—on which point I sometimes have

misgiving's. They were bought by alady, fresh from the nest, in Sydney, in Dec.

.1893, nuder the name of “ Green-leafs,” and she was assured that in 18 months

time they would moult out scarlet breasts. They were brought home with

much care, and for some mouths fed solely on boiled maize. I bought

them, unknown and unseen, last Autumn, together with what was called a

Crimson Lory, which I expected and found to be a singularly fine Pennant.

The “Greenleafs” at once took my fancy : they were very tame, very amusing

in their waj’S, and their whistling (or rather that of the one which I

hope is a cock) very melodious. Of their race I was ignorant, but soon

discovered, from Dr. Greene’s “Parrots in Captivity,” that Green-leeks

(not leafs) is the common name in Australia of Barrabands, or young

Barrabands. and such I found them to be. The adult cock alone of this breed

has a yellow head and scarlet upper-breast. My pair, on a superficial view’-,

look alike, entirely green, but differ in several points, which makes me

hope they are cock and hen ; but, on the other hand, they don’t show the

slightest affection for each other.


I am writing these notes with the double object of giving information

as to the system which I have, thus far, found to succeed with my

Barrabands, and also in the hope that I may possibly get some infor¬

mation myself as to the chances of their being cock and hen.


I will give the pros, and cons, on this point, separately. Their voices

and notes are quite different: the supposed cock (which, for distinction’s

sake, I call “Monsieur,”) whistles beautifully, which “Madame” never

does. He tyrannizes considerably over her, and entirely monopolizes the

swing: indeed, she dares not touch a mealworm till she sees him -well

provided with one. On the other hand, as I have said, they show little

affection for each other, and “Madame” has 'an evident fancy for a male



