On Sexing Parrakeets.



59



birds, these Hornbills have the curious habit of shaking their plum¬

age as if shivering. I can cordially recommend them as pets.


The Pigmy Hornbills of the genus Lophoceros, though ap¬

parently very little known in captivity, are sometimes exhibited in

-Continental collections. A few years ago I saw an example in the

Jardin des Plantes, and a few weeks ago another in the Bird House

at Antwerp. These were apparently the grey South African species

(L. epirhinus), and in many years of study were the first living

examples seen by the writer.


Hornbills are easily kept and can be acclimatized like any

other birds. Like all creatures which have succeeded in the battle of

life, they have most accommodating appetites and will eat almost

anything—boiled rice, chopped bananas, fruits of various descriptions,

fish, small birds, mice. Although possessed of harsh voices their

cries are not disagreeable : the Pigmy Hornbills indeed are said to

warble like a Thrush. Hornbills are certainly gifted with high

intelligence, are affectionate, and soon become attached to their

owner. In winter a warm room should be provided for them ; in

summer they may be kept outdoors in the day time. Like parrots

they are subject to tuberculosis. The Black Hornbill mentioned

above was examined by the writer after death : the liver was studded

over with characteristic small, pale tubercular nodules.



ON SEXING PARRAKEETS.


Platycercince.


By The Marquis of Tavistock.


Having had some experience of the majority of the Broadtail

Parrakeets, I should say that, when adult, they are not on the whole

■very difficult birds to sex ; nothing like so hard, for instance, as the

true Parrots, Conures, and Macaws.


I quite agree with Dr. Lovell-Keays, however, that the sexing

of immature specimens is in most cases largely a matter of guess work,

though I am rather surprised to see that he mentions Piedrumps as

being difficult to distinguish when young. I have never bred Red-

rumps, although I have seen some not more than a few months old,

and I have always been under the impression that the immature



