352 On the Breeding of the Red-faced Lovebird.


I sooii tired of seeing this performance repeated, and decided to

decoy them into a smaller aviary abutting on the larger one. I

was very sorry indeed to have to do this, but the circumstances

compelled me. The Lovebirds were well able to take care of

themselves and would let nothing interfere with them, indeed

they seemed to be universally respected by all the birds in the

aviary. It was an easy matter to capture them by placing

the seed in the small aviary, and watching my opportunity, I

soon had them shut off. They lived very happily in the aviary,

for some months, but finding they were rather too crowded I

reduced my stock to two pairs by parting with several, chiefly to

members of the Society. Just before my departure to Scotland

I noticed signs of breeding and this interesting event unfor¬

tunately took place in my absence.


They nested in a small box with half a cocoanut husk

cemented inside, but any exact details I cannot give. On my

return I found two fine young ones, which had been reared, dead

on the floor of the aviary. I do not know whether to attribute

their deaths to the mice which infest the place or to the excessive

heat at the time. The young birds were very fat and appeared

to me to be somewhat larger than the old birds. I have every

reason to be satisfied with my experience with these birds, con¬

clusively proving that they are not the dull, stupid, delicate birds

they are popularly supposed to be. I only lost one adult bird,

which mysteriously disappeared one day without leaving a

feather behind, perhaps I have the mice to thank for this also.

Should anyone wish to keep a hardy, interesting little bird I

would say get a pair of Red-faced Lovebirds and you will not

be disappointed.


[Mr. Porter’s experience is extremely interesting, for the

Red-faced Lovebird is generally regarded by aviculturists as

one of the most difficult birds to acclimatise, though when once

acclimatised it is acknowledged to be hardy. It is much to be

regretted that the young were not reared ; but the fact of young

having been produced at all is a matter to be proud of.— Ed.]



