some Experiences of King Parrcikeets. 297


weeks in a large outdoor cage and finally decided to reserve the one

from Belgium as a mate for the old King, and to put the other with

the cut-winged couple above mentioned. As I had often heard that

Kings are absolutely indifferent to cold, I did not anticipate that

she would thrive any less well than the two male birds, but it soon

became evident that the treatment did not agree with her; for,

although the weather was mild, she looked so obviously cold and

unhappy that I foresaw her speedy demise if I persisted in the open-

air treatment. I therefore caught her again and put her in a cage

in a warm room, where she spent the remainder of the winter in

good health. It is evident that Kings are only indifferent to cold

when in really good plumage and condition, and it is unwise to turn

them out of doors when newly-imported, unless the weather be really

warm. There are, in fact, very few parrots able to withstand such

Spartan treatment; Blue-bonnets can, and probably Quakers and

Cockateels, and perhaps some Macaws ; the rest must have heat,

which after all is only natural when one considers the high tem¬

perature to which most are accustomed in their native haunts. All

this time the old King—the sole survivor of the fever outbreak—had

been leading a life of unfettered freedom. He spent most of his

time in the company of some Port Lincolns, with whom he some¬

times made expeditions of several miles, always, however, returning

to roost. When February came round, the Queen from Belgium,

now looking very well indeed, started calling persistently in her cage

until she attracted the attention of her intended mate. He was

much delighted at discovering her, visiting her constantly and per¬

forming various antics for her benefit.


The courtship of Aprosmictus cyanopygius is quite unlike that

of most other Australian parrakeets and is very amusing to watch.

The cock indulges in aimless hops and rushes in the immediate

vicinity of the object of his affections, picking up bits of leaf or

grass and throwing them about. Occasionally he sits down in front

of the hen and moves his wings up and down a few times, and at

frequent intervals stops and scratches his head violently as if he

had forgotten something he wanted to say. The whole time the

display is going on, the pupils of the eyes keep contracting and



