on the Nesting of Trichoglossus johnstonm. 45


picture of misery. Once more the three were allowed together,

but this time the deserted hen had quickly to be captured, as she

had had her tail pulled out and been almost scalped by the new

wife and her fickle mate.


These birds now took possession of a small wooden box,

measuring about 7 in. by 10 in. high, and a cocoa nut husk

cemented at the bottom. The hen almost at once commenced to

sit, or rather they both did, for the cock spent nearly as much

time in the box as the hen, always roosting in it together and he

feeding the hen several times a day on the nest.


Three weeks passed, and at last I fancied I heard more than

one sound when the feeding took place, the hen rarely appeared

and I made sure there were youngsters. At last, as the hen

appeared to be neglecting the babies, I took courage and peered

into the box, the old birds solemnly looked on and showed no

annoyance. To my great disappointment there was nothing, not

an egg, or even an egg shell, and to this day I cannot imagine

why this farce was carried through, it was such a ridiculous

waste of time and energy and so annoying to their owner.


About three weeks after this the hen commenced to sit

again, but I took very little interest in her affairs, as I quite

believed she was going to play this little game again. The cock

fed her industriously and as before roosted and spent much time

in the nest box, which considering the weather — 86 deg. in the

shade — must have been warm work. I still kept count of dates

in case of success, and just three weeks after the hen disappeared

little squeaks and sounds of young birds proceeded from the nest

box. I was sceptical at first, but as the sounds got stronger I

took advantage of the old birds' absence and once more examined

the nesting box. The old birds flew in at once with cries of rage

and fright, but I had time to see two little bare red bodies with

large beaks — baby Lorikeets about a week old !


And now, day by day, the sounds grew louder from the

box, the calls for food stronger but at longer intervals. The old

birds fed largely on spray millet and sweetened bread and milk ;

half an orange was also consumed daily.


Just a calendar month after the young ones were first

heard in the box, they appeared perfectly fledged, in faultless



