50 Successful Breeding of the Grand Eclectus Parrot.


necessary, as the more they had of it the more they seemed to eat

of the other foods, which was most important, as the young birds

for the first two months never seemed satisfied, and the noise they

made when hungry, as they generally seemed to be, was more like

young puppies than birds.


The log—18in. by 20in.—is a piece of a trunk of a tree bored

out. It was rather dark, which made it very difficult to watch the

growth of the plumage ; besides which the hen always returned when¬

ever she saw anyone looking in ; but on August 20th I saw grey dowu

on wings and part of the head, the rest was quite bare. On 31st, a

red tinge on one head. Sept. 2nd I noticed red and green feathers

showing' on the two tails and down on wings and a little on the back.

Sept. 9th, tail-feathers much larger and a tinge of colour in wings ;

backs quite covered with down. They were very lively, making

dabs and rushes at one’s hand. By Sept. 18th the young male’s

head was quite feathered, and there were a good many feathers on

the chest, but the back was still unfeathered. The hen was longer in

feathering, and for some time after the male’s head was quite green,

she had only a red fringe over the eyes, the rest grey down ; yet she

got her tail-feathers first, and I thought her the oldest. On and

after October 1st they came out occasionally on the platform in front

of the log, but if anyone came into the aviary this most careful

mother would push the young back. When they were outside I first

noticed the male bird feeding them, and they used to follow him for

food, after they came out altogether, which after a few days seemed

to annoy the female and she became very cross towards the male and

the young one, so on the 20th I had to cage her. He continued feeding

for another week, but has now given it up and they feed themselves

principally on seed, but I have not quite given up the Indian corn.


The beaks are not yet their proper colour, the young male’s

being a very dusky orange with red tip, the female’s a very dingy

black; the eyes have always been the same as those of the old birds

as far as I could see. I should add that the old birds are tame

and very clever and devoted to those they know. The male bird

says a few words.


I am afraid I have written at much too great length, but I am

told that the Eclectus has not been bred before in Great Britain.



