M. Amsler—Breeding of the King Parrakcet 165


dared not leave them. Could they have been put in to prevent the eggs

rolling about ? I allowed incubation to proceed until 20th June—-

over three weeks, when I examined the eggs ; they were all infertile,

so I removed them and the nesting arrangements in the hopes that a

further clutch might be forthcoming and that the birds would choose

a nest-box. During all this time the cock was most assiduous in feeding

the hen, and became much tamer than he had formerly been.


On 30th June, 2nd July, and 3rd July three eggs were laid again

on the ground. This time I cut a hemispherical hole in a thick piece of

timber, which I buried flush with the ground and in which I placed the

three eggs. On 5th July a fourth egg was laid with the preceding ones,

and I then replaced my galvanized iron roof. The hen looked like laying

for another three days, but changed her mind and began incubation

on 8th July. She sat very steadily, with the cock in constant attendance,

until 28th July, when three chicks hatched out; incubation was there¬

fore just under three weeks.


Fearing that the chicks would wriggle out of their shallow nest, I

made a sort of box, some 6 inches deep, which T fixed round the nest

on 6th August; the parents had to climb over the edge to get down

to the young, but they were in no wise disturbed by this change in

their home, and I have no doubt that I should have failed in rearing the

young had I not taken this precaution. The chicks were even uglier

than most parrakeets in the early stages, the skin being greyish white

covered with dark grey down. They were constantly brooded by the

hen during the first ten days, and I think the cock did most of the

feeding, though I am not certain whether at this period he gave the

food direct to the chicks or whether he fed the hen, who subsequently

fed the young. Very large quantities of hemp and sunflower seed

were consumed. Unlike Rosellas and Cockatiels, soaked bread and

ground rice were not touched. Owing to the drought there was a

great scarcity of groundsel, chickweed, and dandelion, but a large

seeding lettuce would disappear in an incredibly short time.


By 6th August, at the age of 9 days, the young were well covered

with quills, and extremely noisy when hungry. By the 20th the quills

were bursting, and the green colour was clearly visible on the heads and

backs. One of the chicks was considerably smaller than the other two.



