76



The Marquis of Tavistock,



The family of six, now deserted by their parents, did not keep

very closely together, and it w r as the exception to see the whole

number at one time ; also they very soon began to disagree among

themselves, especially at mealtimes, and the stronger of the young

cocks would seldom tolerate the presence of his brother until he had

satisfied his hunger and left the feeding tray. During September

and October both old and young birds strayed to considerable dis¬

tances and two of the latter never returned. They showed a great-

partiality for apples and paid frequent visits to neighbouring orchards

without, however, doing serious damage to the fruit, as they are far

less wasteful and destructive than many of the larger parrots, which

throw down and spoil much more than they actually consume.


After the departure of the pair just referred to, my stock of

Adelaides consisted (in November 1912) of the two breeding birds,

an imported cock and two hens acquired during the summer, the

young cock and three young hens. The imported birds, all of which

were fully adult, stayed well during the winter, started to prospect

for nesting sites in February, raised my hopes and then, in true

Pennant fashion, departed for good. Of the three young hens : one

paired with the young cock and another with a cock Pennant. The

third, when about five months old, completely lost the use of one

of her legs ; I thought she had sustained some injury, but when,,

eight weeks later, she lost the use of the other leg also and had to-

be destroyed, it became evident that she had been suffering from a-

mysterious form of paralysis which sometimes attacks my parrakeets,

etc. when at liberty. Fortunately the disease is rare among Platij-

cercines, and a Many-Colour, which recently fell a victim after

enjoying' nearly a year’s freedom in perfect health, is the only other

case which I have met with in this particular family. Madagascar

Love-birds, however, develop the disease so freely that I have had

to give up keeping them. I have sent several for post mortem exami¬

nation, but the reports have always been vague and unsatisfactory.


In March of this year the old pair of Adelaides nested in the

decaying trunk of an oak about 40ft. from the ground, the entrance hole

being perfectly round and only just large enough to allow them to

squeeze through. The hen, as on the previous occasion, disappeared

entirely for nearly seven weeks, being fed on the nest by the cock,



