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procurable at Abrahams’) should be liuug high up in a well-lit

situation, either in the inner aviary or in a sheltered position in

the outer aviary. They generally commence nesting in the early

spring months, although some imported birds I have had

persisted in nesting in winter, with, naturally, no result; but

after a time they came to the conclusion that they had better fall

in with the vagaries of the new climate, and have since always

nested in summer. When after some days you have missed the

hen from her usual perch, do not on any account allow your

zeal to outrun your discretion by permitting yourself to take the

log down to look inside, or you will in all probability make her

forsake her eggs. During incubation, and subsequent rearing of

the young, I give an occasional dish of bread sop, and a few oats,

with plenty of hard fruit, in addition to hemp and canary seed.

The hen lays from three to five eggs, and they hatch generally in

about twenty-one days, and the young appear in about thirty days.

After the young are hatched the cock takes almost sole charge

of them, and is most assiduous in feeding them. When the

youngsters are once out of the nest they usually thrive apace,

and grow almost as big as their parents in a surprisingly short

space of time.


These notes on the Rosella appty equally well to the other

Plotycerci , viz., the Mealy Rosella and the Pennant, except that

I have never been able to induce these birds to breed in an aviary

containing any other members of their own family.


Pennants I consider the most interesting and, at the same

time, the most beautiful of the very lovely family of Broadtails,

but, unfortunately, like the Mealy Rosella, they are most

particular about being molested by the presence of other birds.

I should say that anyone who really wished to breed Pennants

should devote a small aviary to a pair, and then he would have

much more likelihood of success than if he proceeded as I have

advised for the Rosella.


Barnard’s, another species of the Platycerci, I have kept,

but never could induce them to breed, although they had an

aviary to themselves.


All the Plcityce7'ci are very hardy, and may, if first turned

out in the spring and allowed time to get gradually acclimatized,

be kept out of doors all the year round, without any fear of our

winter affecting them. I have frequently seen my birds fly

down to the fountain as soon as I have broken the ice on a

winter’s morning, and, entering the water, have thoroughly

enjoyed a good bath.



