Bird Notes from the Zoological Gardens. 201


with me, although I must admit I have not had a pair longer

than two 3’ears, when one of them died in a fit one very hot day

in July. I found a clot of blood on the brain and the body

simply a ball of fat.


These birds while I had them were fed on the ordinary

seed diet with two or three times a week a tablespoonful of

honey and some sponge cake.


They were the tamest Parrakeets I ever had, and would

fly on to my shoulder or hand immediately I entered the aviary.

The cock would roll over on his back in my hand and play

with the fingers of the other hand in the same manner that a

puppy will do, pretending to bite and pushing my fingers with

his feet. They were both as playful as kittens.


I have thought since, after reading the experiences of

some of our members with these birds, that had I given them

less seed and a more suitable diet, considering that they are

brush-tongued and pollen eaters, I should never have lost the

cock, and thus, through being at that time unable to get

another, I was persuaded to part with the hen to a friend who

had a bird he wished a mate for. She died a year after.



BIRD NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.



Those of our members who have not been to the Gardens

for some time will be surprised and gratified, on their next visit,

to find how many and great are the improvements that have

been carried out. Since the appointment of the present

Secretary, less than a year ago, numbers of lasting improve¬

ments have been made in almost every direction.


We can only, in this journal, enumerate a few of the

alterations in the various aviaries, etc.


The Western aviary, which was in a very dilapidated

state, has been practically rebuilt, and is now completely

furnished and beautifully fitted up and stocked. The larger and

less attractive Doves and Pigeons have mostly been moved to the

new Plieasantry near the South Entrance. Here the experiment



