50



authenticated instance of such an intermarriage having taken

place. Of these five, we may expect that they will nest much like

the two species which yet remain to be mentioned ; and we can

only hope that, when their manner of nidification comes to be

revealed, it will be found that they have not belied the title

which I hope will now be accorded to the Agapornes, and to the

Agapornes alone.


Of the Red-faced Rove-bird, the Madagascar, A. cana, and

the Peach- or Rosy-faced, A. roseicollis, I may say that, however

spitefully they may behave towards other birds and extra

members of their own species, in a suitable aviary they are,

as a rule, very loving and affectionate towards their mates ;

but the last two have also betrayed to us the ingrained

devoted and exceptional character of the Love-bird, not only by

making right down comfortable nests for their young, but also

by carrying the material to the nesting-places in a way which is

unique among the feathered creation, and by bestowing an

amount of pains-taking and labour upon the work which, being

carried on single-handed, eclipses the proverbial industry of the

ant and the bee.


I must here pause for a moment to bring to the front

a statement of Mr. Castellan which appears in the second

paragraph at page 41 :—“ The Love-birds take possession of the

nests of other birds, such as Weavers, for their own use.” If

the reference to the Weavers’ nests had been included in the

next sentence, and quoted along with the other unnatural modes

of the nesting of the Love-bird in captivity, I could have

understood it; as it stands, it is to me incomprehensible; and

I should be exceedingly obliged if he will give his authority tor

the statement. The rest of the sentence I have quoted may have

been taken from the Royal Natural History ; but I feel strongly

that the writer mentioned in that work made the statement

under a misapprehension, of which more anon.


It was with a light heart that I took up my pen to write

this article, but it has just occurred to me that it might be wise

to refer to my bird-journal. Here I find notes on the nesting

of A. roseicollis, a daily record extending over a period of some

two years, so voluminous that I must confess myself nonplused,

being quite unequal to the task of putting them into a shape

suitable for the Avicultural Magazine in the short time that I

find at my disposal; I propose, therefore, to hold over the

account of the nesting of this bird for a future occasion, and

will now confine myself to a few general remarks.



