342 Nesting of the Adelaide Patrakeet.


The plentifulness of the Tody is demonstrated, yet on the

occasion of which I write, although I was on the look-out for old

birds I saw but two. It is often er not seen. And even when

perched on a favourite bare twig-end, despite its scarlet throat,

it is easily unobserved, so like foliage is the bird's green. There

he sits with an inoffensive expression and an attitude of absolute

indifference, with his head pointing upwards. But he is not

strong flighted, nor can he, living on insects, capture them by

chase as do the Swallows; the insect must be allured near him,

and my idea is, that scarlet throat is calculated to deceive. The

unsuspecting insect mistakes it for some flower, hovers near it

for a moment, just long enough for the Tody to make a dart of a

few feet, and the consequence is another misguided insect is

entombed. Its only requiem being a 'snap,' ' snap' of the bird's

mandibles.


Kingston, Jamaica,

July 1 6 Ik, 1907.



NESTING OF THE ADELAIDE PARRAKEET.

By W. R. Fasey.


My pair of Adelaide Parrakeets came from our Editor

towards the end of last year, and when writing me recently he

said he had no record of these birds nesting successfully in

captivity.


As most of our members have seen, these birds are not

unlike immature Pennants just finishing the moult and not in

full colour. I remember that I once bought a pair of immature

Pennants which the dealer at the time declared were Adelaides.


The Adelaides were given an aviary in which only two

other small birds resided — a pair of Parrot-Finches— and I have

nothing of interest to relate, until a few weeks back I saw they

were nesting, and finally four young ones left the nest and are

now flying about. Their markings are like those of their parents

excepting that the ground-colour is of a more greenish shade.

I consider the red marks quite as distinct as the parents'.


My birds have nested very freely this year and I have

quite a number of young birds. One interesting Parrakeet, not



