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On red rosellas at liberty.



peculiar, a brief description of them may perhaps be helpful. The

affected bird goes wrong rather suddenly and looks most miserable,

often appearing, from the way she holds herself, to have received a

blow across the middle of the back. She ruffles her feathers, droops

her wings very much and sits with her head under her wing, occa¬

sionally shaking herself and stretching her neck in a peculiar way as

though something had stuck in her throat. Great heat (80-85°) and

the insertion of a little olive oil into the vent with a soft paint brush

will usually effect a cure, but alas ! owing to the almost universal

habit parrots have of nesting in the recesses of a dark barrel or hollow

tree, it often happens that a tragedy occurs before it can possibly

be averted.


Some species are far more subject to egg-binding than others ;

some individuals belonging even to the most susceptible species may

be immune, but it does not follow that their immunity will be

transmitted to their offspring. Over-fat birds are more liable to

become egg-bound than those in hard condition, but the most perfect

condition and the most careful treatment often fail to ward off the

danger. There is only one rule to be observed with birds in cap¬

tivity. Never allow a valuable hen to breed except at a fairly high

temperature, especially if she be a Stanley, a hooded, or a grass

parrakeet. You may lose the chance of a nest or two through over¬

caution, but it is better to have the hen without the eggs than the

eggs without the hen !


To return to the rosellas. About a fortnight before his

mother’s illness I had obtained a mate for the young cock. He soon

discovered her and spent most of his time close to the aviary.

Evidently he had fallen much in love with her, but unfortunately

his father, now a grass widower, followed his example. When the

lady was let out there was a scene. The old bird did his best to

win her, but his son was too many for him ; he was not going to be

done out of the bride he had waited for so patiently and courted so

long, and although the smaller, duller, and hitherto the weaker bird,

he fairly ousted his parent and won the day. To console the old

fellow I got a second hen, and in due time he took her off to the elm

and a family were safely reared there the following summer. The

young cock and his mate established themselves in a barrel under



