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The Marquis of Tavistock,



King left—the old cock—all the rest had succumbed ! Kings, like

Crimson-wings, Blue-bonnets, and the little Parrakeets of the genus

Neophema have not, even when in the most perfect health and

vigour, the very slightest power of resisting fever infection ; the true

Platycerci withstand it better (Port Lincolns and Pennants are the

most susceptible), and it was fortunate for me that they do, for other¬

wise I do not believe I should have had a single parrakeet left. Even

as things were, however, my losses were sufficiently grievous, and

for a long time Kings remained a very painful reminiscence. However,

time may bring consolation, and when, in the late autumn, a pair of

Kings was offered for sale at the disposal of M. Pauwels’ splendid

collection, I determined to have another try with them and attempt

to repair my shattered fortunes. When the birds arrived, I found

the cock as perfect as I could desire, but the hen rather disappointed

me as she looked decidedly ‘ thick,’ and I entertained grave doubts

as to the soundness of her internal economy and particularly of her

liver. However, she did better than I expected, improving steadily

and looking quite another bird after a few weeks had passed. About

the time of the arrival of the pair from Belgium, two more Kings

reached me—a fine cock and a rather moderate hen who had lost

the ends of some of her toes.


The former, together with the other male bird, I turned out

with cut wings into a large glass quadrangle in the centre of the

house, where they did admirably and still continue in the finest

condition. Turning out to grass with cut wings is I find an ex¬

cellent way of keeping many of the larger and hardier members of

the parrot family. A pair of Eoseate Cockatoos treated in this way

have nested and reared their young, although the cock was a newly-

imported bird and by no means tame. Cockatiels have twice laid

eggs, which accidents prevented them from incubating, and many

Platycercine parrakeets of different species have lived under similar

conditions for several months in the best of health, and with a little

encouragement would, I believe, have nested successfully. Small

and delicate species, like the members of the Neophema family, do

not thrive so well under this treatment, and there is great risk of

enteritis when the removal of the flight feathers leaves the side

exposed to the cold. The two Queens I kept together for some



