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rather resembles the hen ; but where I suppose he will someday

have a yellow crown and chin, he now possesses a dove-coloured,

one, something like a Quaker Parrakeet; he has pink between

the thighs, and pinky-coloured edging to the under side of his

tail ; the other part of his person is green; eyes black, feet

blackish. When he first came out, I expect he plumped on the

ground, as he certainly could not fly much ; and seemed

generally rather surprised with himself and the world at large.

To-day, (Saturday) he has learnt to fly fairly well; can take a

seat beside his parents, and even answer the cock in a voice very

similar to his own.


While I think of it, my Parrakeets never all come out on

the same day, like Mr. Gedney’s did ; and they never range

themselves in a line on the perch to be admired. Indeed, they

have little or no idea of perching for some days.


No. 2 came out about Thursday, and resembled No. i, but

was a little finer in make, thereby making me think that she is

a hen. No. 3 came out the following week, and I have not yet

made up my mind whether it is a cock or a hen.


I do not think there can be a prettier sight than this

family of Barrabands ; and the old birds seem as proud of their

efforts as a young couple of their first baby.


With regard to feeding, I always give the very plainest

and simplest diet. I believe Parrakeets are like a boy that was

at school with me at Lancing : he used to say (and didn’t we

chaff him unmercifully) “ This plain diet and early rising does

me a world of good.” I believe Barrabands think the same.


My Barrabands have nothing but hemp and canary seed.

They like hemp themselves, but I think they have reared the

babies entirely on canary. They also have an unlimited supply

of flowering grass. The j^oungsters, when they left the nest,

were about a third of the size of the old birds. To-day, July 26th,

they have grown famously, and the eldest is nearly as big as the

hen.


I hope this article will interest our members as much to

read as it has me to write it; but unless they are strong, I advise

them not to go in for the strain and anxiety of rearing a nest of

Barrabands. My hair is appreciably whiter since they began

nesting.



