on Adelaide Parrakeets.



73



young Pennants), and there is a slow but continuous growth of red

feathers on the breast and a gradual appearance of the‘hen pheasant ’

pattern on the back. By the time they are twelve months old and

are beginning to think of nesting they are almost as red on the

breast as they will ever become, and the pattern on the back is very

marked, though not yet perfect. There is, however, nothing like the

full amount of blue and black on the wings and the rump is still

yellowish olive and not yellowish or reddish buff. In early autumn,

immediately after breeding, there is a complete moult and the full

adult plumage is assumed. It is rather curious that Gould, in his

‘ Birds of Australia ’ has given figures of what he describes as an

adult Adelaide and one in immature dress. As a matter of fact, the

plate depicts two adult birds — -a hen of the red phase and a cock of

the buff' type. The lower figure (the cock) does not show any of the

markings — or rather lack of markings — really characteristic of im¬

maturity. As an aviary bird the Adelaide possesses the merit of being

absolutely indifferent to cold, when properly acclimatized, not par¬

ticularly destructive to woodwork and easily catered for—wheat,

oats, Canary, millet and hemp, with apple and green stuff, being all

that it requires in the way of food. Grit should, of course, be

supplied, as well as water for drinking and bathing. During the

breeding season a mated cock Adelaide is an impossible neighbour

for any other Platycercus kept in the same aviary. Whether he will

or will not tolerate the presence of other varieties of Parrakeets less

nearly related to him depends a good deal on individual temperament.

He will not, as a rule, interfere with small finches, but as in nearly

all cases, wdrere the latter are kept with parrots or parrakeets, it is

very advisable to protect their sleeping and nesting quarters with

large mesh wire netting, through which they alone are able to pass.

Under these conditions, the casualties, if any occur, wall be confined

to sick birds and very young fledgelings which are not sufficiently

alert to keep out of the way of danger.


In the acclimatization experiment, in which I have been

engaged during the past few years with different species of Australian

parrakeets, the Adelaide has, on the whole, brought me more satis¬

faction than disappointment, which is more than I can say of its

near relative the Pennant, whose exasperating behaviour I am at



