on the Breeding of the Black-cheeked Lovebird. 35


rapidly became brighter, and the flanks yellower; the breast-

patch at first was very bright ; the brown of the forehead ex¬

tended farther back in “A” than in “ B,” and then there came

some green or greenish. The black on the sides of the chin

seemed to be as deep as in the parents, but only a little colouring

extended upwards behind the eyes. The head of B seemed to be

broader than that of A, and, although the younger, “ she ” seemed

to be the larger bird. But all the differences of shading quickly

assumed a dull level—the young and the old, as seen in the

garden, became very much alike. Even the yellow in the red of

the beaks of the fledgelings seems to have gone. No. 3 had

joined the group on the 27th, as usual in the quiet of the early

morning; and the fourth and last came out on the following day,

carefully tended by one of its parents. I think the latter must

have been “ hurried” out of the log, for it was less forward than

the others, and was fed by the male for some days after the others

were feeding themselves. They quickly took to nibbling at green

food, but on and from the 30th the three were feeding on dry

seed, &c., with their father.


The four young birds are fond of climbing and gambolling

about, and, with their father, form a pretty group. They are

now, young and old, quite amicably inclined towards the other

birds, though often sparring among themselves.


And where is mother? Once more she is on her nest,

having laid the first egg of a second clutch probably on August

30. She is sitting very steadily, never leaving the birdroom, and

has at length come to have such confidence in my integrity that,

after climbing up and inspecting me, she will return to her eggs

without waiting for me to leave the room.


On September 5, noticing from the movements of the odd

female that she had nothing of value in her nest, I got a step-

ladder and made a hurried examination. On a sheltered sloping

shelf, divided into sections, there were three large “ mounds” of

various nesting materials, amongst which millet stalks and sticks

from the birch brooms were noticeable. I had marked the one

from which she had fled, and did not stop to examine the others.

As usual, she had slipped quietly from the nest and had dis¬

appeared in the recesses of the “forest” (birdroom). I11 the far



