on the Duration of the Period of Incubation. 161


sequently in many cases where a species has been bred, no record

of the period of incubation has been published. Comparing

Russ’ records with those of other observers, I should be inclined

to think he sometimes over estimated the period : however, I

have notes of the following :—Swainson’s Rorikeet, twenty-three

to twenty-six days (Russ) ; Coclcatiel, twenty-one days (Russ);

Illiger’s Macaw, twenty-four days (Russ); Golden-crowned

Conure, twenty-six days (Russ) ; Passerine Parrotlet, apparently

eighteen days (John Watson), nineteen to twenty days (Russ);

Grand Eclectus, thirty days (Russ); Blossom-head and Rosa

Parrakeets, twenty-two to twenty-three days (Russ)*; Nepal

Alexandrine Parrakeet, about twenty-one days (Capt. Hutton);

Black-tailed Parrakeet, apparently about four weeks (cf. Mrs.

Johnstone’s account) ; Red-winged Parrakeet, twenty-four days

(Russ) ; Madagascar Rove-bird, nineteen to twenty days (Russ);

Red-faced Rove-bird, twenty-one days (Russ); Rosy-faced Rove-

bird, nineteen to twenty days (Russ) ; Pennant (or Adelaide) about

twenty days (Farrar) ; Mealy Rosella, twenty-one days (C. P.

Arthur) ; Rosella, about twenty-one days (John Sargeant),

twenty-two to twenty-four days (Russ); Barnard’s Parrakeet,

about three weeks (Mrs. Johnstone); Many-colour, about

eighteen days (cf. Seth-Smith in Appendix to ‘Parrakeets’),

Blood-rump, twenty-two days (Russ); Bourke’s Parrakeet, about

seventeen days (Groom), twenty-two days (Russ); Blue-banded

Grass-Parrakeet, nineteen days (Robert Hall); Turquoisine,

twenty to twenty-two days (Russ); New Zealand Parrakeet,

twenty-four days (Russ); Goldeu-lieaded Parrakeet, twenty-one

days (G. E. Bouskill), twenty-four days (Russ); Budgerigar,

eighteen to twenty days (Russ).


In the Columbce it is comparatively easy to note the

hatching of the eggs without risk of blundering; yet Dr. Russ,

speaking of the Doves as a whole, says that their period of

incubation lasts from fourteen to twenty days ; and he takes no

further trouble about the matter.


Miss Alderson says (Avic. Mag., VIII. p. 221) “ sitting lasts

seventeen to nineteen days, in some cases possibly a little



I bred tlie latter in 1894 ; but, the Avicultural Society not being' then in existence,

fear I neglected to take careful notes on the occurrence.



