Some Hints on Parrot-Keeping.



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are alike in colour. Port Lincoln’s stay fairly well at liberty and

their loud whistling calls, unpleasantly noisy in a room, are most

beautiful when heard at a little distance in the open air. Un¬

fortunately B. semitorquatus is a murderous fighter and just as

expert as the Bauer in inflicting beak injuries.


Pileated oe Red-capped Paeeakeet (Porphyromphalus

spurius ). — This curious, aberrant Platycercine is, in spite of the fact

that it is lively, striking in appearance and amiable in disposition,

liable to bring its owner more anxiety and disappointment than

satisfaction. Of all Parrakeets it is the most intensely nervous, and

catching and handling' it in the most gentle manner will often reduce

it to such a state of prostration through sheer terror, that its life

may be seriously endangered. It also possesses in captivity an

absolute unrivalled capacity for catching fatal chills on the smallest

provocation. It is therefore a wise precaution to remove it from the

aviary in autumn and keep it in a roomy cage in a warm room until

spring is well advanced when it may be very cautiously hardened off.

At the same time Pileateds are under certain circumstances capable

of withstanding cold, as is proved by the fact that I had a fine cock

at liberty during the greater part of the winter of 1912 which kept in

perfect health. Unfortunately in February he strayed in search of

a mate, lost his way and quickly starved. Pileated Parrakeets would

probably do well at liberty as they are very dependent on artificial

feeding, but the process of cutting their wings is so likely to prove

fatal that one hesitates to try it with such valuable birds.

Porphyroceplialus spurius is one of the very few Australian Parra¬

keets which will eat banana with any relish.


Psephotus Paeeakeet. — A family of rather small

Parrakeets of extreme grace and beauty, which spend a good deal of

their time on the ground. The sexes usually present a striking

difference in colour. The food should be the same as that provided

for the Platycerci and green stuff is most important. When tame

they make gentle and affectionate pets.


Redeump Paeeakeet ( Psepliotus Jicematonotus). —The best

known member of the family. Very hardy when properly acclima¬

tized but not at other times, Redrumps would be charming birds at

liberty were it not for the fact that owing to their small size they



