Thirty-two Years of Aviculture.



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show at the Crystal Palace where they were at once snapped up at

the price which I had originally paid for the two pairs.


Two examples, both males, of the Moustache Parrakeet were

sent to me anonymously in 1912 ; one of these died three months

later, but the other is in splendid health and plumage as I write. I

cannot get this bird to eat anything but seed ; it is very destructive

to the woodwork of its aviary but is not noisy, such sounds as it

utters would lead one to imagine that it was constantly discontented

or in pain ; it is rather wild, but I believe tolerably happy.


I have had five Madagascar Lovebirds at various times, and

I never wish to have another ; they are nervous, spiteful and

murderous little wretches ; the males ai’e ready to quarrel with any

bird, though twice their own size ; and with their powerful beaks

they are likely to have it pretty much their own way ; the

females I found even worse. In the early days of my bird¬

keeping I obtained a pair of Rosy-faced Lovebirds from Mr.

Abrahams hoping to breed from them. In those days they fetched

a fairly high price ; however I soon regretted my purchase, for they

not only spent the whole day in uttering an exasperating rattling

scroopy shriek, but they attempted to kill every other bird which

approached them : happily for me Mr. Abrahams consented to take

them back. Years later I became possessed of two hens which I

turned into a small flight cage where they lived a quiet uneventful

life, occasionally laying eggs of which the majority got smashed by

being dropped from the perch. Take them all round I am not

smitten with Lovebirds.


The only Platycercus I ever had was a Rosella given to me by

a gentleman who had got tired of it. I found it a quiet confiding

bird, fond of a smooth caterpillar when it could get one. This

was an old bird when it came into my possession and died a year or

two later. Of course I have had and bred Budgerigars, but only

of the normal green type : at present I have one male only. I

should think that an aviary filled with the blue variety would be

delightful ; lucky are those who have a chance of breeding that

pretty little bird !


Doves and Pigeons always appealed to me ; although, with

the exception of the African Bronzewings, they are a most quarrel-



