THE



Bvtcultural /ISbagasine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. II. — No. 21. All rights reserved. JULY, 1896.



* THE NESTING OF THE ROSY-FACED LOVE-BIRD.


Agapornis roseicollis.


By Reginald Philupps.


In taking up this subject, it will be well to give a brief

sketch of my bird-room and aviary, so that my Rove-birds’

surroundings may be understood, as birds, even the same

individuals, will oft-times adt very differently under different

circumstances. My cages are large, the smallest being four feet

by two feet by two feet high. My garden is covered over with

wire-netting, and can be opened as one aviary or divided into

two. All round there are various sheds, shelters, nest-boxes,

and the like, which are altered and re-arranged from time to time

according to the various natures of the occupants. The part

farthest from the house is as full of living trees and shrubs as

the ground will bear, the latter being also sown with grass, rape,

wheat, nasturtiums, peas, and various flowers and plants,

according to fancy : I aim at making this portion of the garden

a miniature wilderness. The other part of the aviary comes up

to and against the house, and-into this the window of my regular

bird-room opens; and in warm weather this window is usually

left open, so that the birds can fly backwards and forwards as

they please. Everything is done to make the garden a's natural

as possible, so that the instincts and habits of each species may

have free development. At the time that I had my Rosy-faces,


I had several large Parrakeets, and various foreign Crows and

Pies; the presence of these large birds may or may not have

affedted the nesting instincts of the Rove-birds.


At first I kept my Rosy-faces in a cage; afterwards, and for

the space of nearly two years, they flew about where they liked,

and seemingly behaved as in their natural state; and their


* This article is a continuation of Mr. Phillipps’ article on the

Love-bird which appeared in the Magazine for February last (pp. 49-52),

and should be read in connection therewith.



