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The Marquis of Tavistock,



stayed behind and I obtained her a mate of her own species, but a

few weeks later she was picked up dead and the cock vanished soon

after the tragedy.


In my next lot of rosellas I was more fortunate, as among

them were two old cocks who had been on the show bench and

were accustomed to captivity and the ways of mankind. They had,

moreover, acquired enough sense to stay where they found they were

well off. There was also a funny little tailless cock who was

“ finger-tame ” (a finger-tame broadtail may be defined as one which

will unhesitatingly come up to you and bite your finger severely),

but a barn owl ended his career after he had only been with me

about a month.


In the autumn I obtained a cock yellow-mantled parrakeet

together with his mate, a sickly rosella, who did not survive long.

P. splendidus is in reality only a local form of P. eximius with

yellower wings and shoulders ; but it is a very beautiful bird and its

colours are wonderful. By December I was left with six rosellas

(including the yellow-mantle) three being cocks and three hens. All

were fully adult and in excellent condition and they soon turned

their attention to selecting partners, their matrimonial affairs being

most amusing to watch. Some writers declare that the rosella

dances ” before the object of his affections, but after much obser¬

vation I can only say that I consider this statement to be quite

incorrect and a gross insult to a gentleman of refined tastes and

behaviour. The cock is fully conscious of his beauty it is true, and

knows well how to show off his fine plumage to its best advantage

by depressing his shoulders and spreading his tail; he may, too, give

an occasional hop forward to accentuate the general eff ect, but he has

not the slightest intention of making himself either cheap or ridiculous

and will seldom display to a lady whose affections he has reason to

believe are engaged elsewhere. During the early stages of his

courtship he appreciates a modest and retiring disposition on the

part of the fair one, and sometimes enforces it by a spiteful peck

should she appear too bold and take things too much for granted.

I had an amusing instance of the rosella’s innate dislike of a forward

bride only a few weeks ago. At the end of the winter I was offered

a cock yellow-mantle, and although I have now little time to devote



