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questions of food and general raauagemeut is almost always sound and

practical. After all "treatment" is the important matter to the aviculturist.



Horatio R. Fii^i^mer.



THE PLUM-HEADED PARRAKEET.


Sir, — I had a pair of birds sent me this morning, and as I know

nothing about them I thought I would ask you about them.


They are called " Plum-headed Parrakeets," I think. They are short

thick green birds, and both their heads are a sort of grey colour. I have

only an unheated outdoor aviary. I will put a few questions which I shall

be greatly obliged if you will be kind enough to answer.


(i) Are they a pair .? (2) Will they live out of doors .? (3) Will they

breed ? (4) What food .?


M. Bi^anche; Lancaste;r.



The following i-eply wai' sent to Mrs. Lancaster :


(1) When first imported, the Plum-headed Parrakeet {PalcBor^iis cyano-

cephala) is often as }'Ou describe ; but it should turn into a rather long slim

bird, the two central tail-feathers being especiallj^ long : a young female

may sometimes be distinguished by the shorter tail. As they grow older,

the beautiful colours on the head of the male, and a black collar, will enable

you to distinguish the sexes. When young, to distinguish the sexes is often

very difficult. Look carefully at the wing, (when closed), rather high up

towards the bow, and see if there is any sign of a dark reddish-brown spot.

If both birds have the spot, they are probably two males ; if neither has a

spot, the}' are almost, though not quite, certain to be two females. Rose-

headed Parrakeets (P. rosa) are often confused with the Plum Heads ; and

the females of these have the wing spot as well as the males. Both the

males and the females sing.


(2) They are not robust when first brought over, but, as soon as

acclimatised, can stand a good deal of cold ; nevertheless, those I have

kept never seemed to like much of it. If 3'our aviary is well sheltered from

the cold Avinds, and is large enough to enable them to fly about freelj-, they

ma}' do fairly well ; but this year the}' should not be put out at any rate

until May.


(3) Yes, under favourable circumstances they breed readily ; but your

birds cannot be expected to breed this year.


(4) Chiefly canary seed, with a little white millet. They are usually

very fond of spray millet. A little plain dry biscuit, crumbled small, may

be mixed with the canary seed. A few good oats may be given occasionall}',

but hemp very sparingly. When nesting, sop squeezed rather dry may be

given, and more biscuit, as then the male feeds the female, and is all the

better for a little help.


The more care you take of your^ two birds this year, the stronger

they are likely to be in the future.


R. Phii,i<ipps.



