on breeding notes for 1917 .



59



mortem reply came back, “ cerebral haemorrhage,” until examination

by an expert more accustomed to bird ailments pronounced it septi¬

caemia, an internal inflammation being the real cause of death and

the brain symptoms of secondary importance. Everything was tried

as a preventative—medicine, diet, boiled water — without avail, and the

remnant were only saved by sending them to a friend in Gloucester¬

shire.


But fortunately only certain species seem susceptible to the

disease, and the breeding season of 1917, though not without its

disappointments, has proved not unsatisfactory as a whole. The

birds from which there was at least a hope of obtaining young

were 3 pairs of Stanleys, 4 pairs of Barrabands, 1 pair of Queen

Alexandras, 1 pair of Pileated, 1 pair of Bauers, 1 Yellow-mantle

paired to a Rosella, 1 pair of Redrumps, 1 pair of Bourkes, 3 pairs of

Blue-winged Grass Parrakeets, 1 cock Rock Grass Parrakeet paired

to a Bluewing hen (who is minus one foot, but a good layer), 2 pairs

of Guiana Parrotlets, 1 Lutino Indian Ringneck paired to a green

cock, 1 Lutino African Ringneck similarly mated, 1 Lutino Blossom-

head similarly mated, 3 pairs of Hooded and a Blue-faced Lorikeet

( T. hcematodus ) paired to a cock Swainson.


Of these birds the Stanleys, the Barrabands, the Queen

Alexandras, the Pileated, the Redrumps, and the cock Palaeornis

Parrakeets had wintered out of doors and stood the severe weather

extremely well. There are only two satisfactory ways of wintering

valuable Parrakeets in captivity : If there is a good chance of their

standing the cold, put them in a sunny, unheated aviary whose flight

communicates with an open shed, one half of the front of which is

boarded up from roof to ground. In this way you get shelter from

wind and wet without draughts or sudden changes of temperature.

If the birds are delicate, put them in roomy cages, protected by a

shield on the back and two sides, and keep them at a high, even

temperature. If you are asking for trouble try a room with a

moderate and varying temperature, or a heated aviary with an

outdoor flight attached.


The three pairs of Stanleys hatched and reared five, three, and

two young respectively, but did not nest a second time.


Two of the four pairs of Barrabands nested and hatched one



