PARROTS. 



77 



astonished, they were far too old birds to be deceived, and would not approach ; the young ones, 

 on the contrary, surrounded it in crowds. It took not the slightest notice of them, but they 

 were not to be repulsed ; they became most pressing in their attentions, hopped quite close to 

 it, looked at it with the greatest delight, and answered its chirp with all their little strength. 

 When it became angry and flew off to another tree, the whole array followed, and it was only 

 when the stranger began to exhibit its splendid powers of flight, that the sparrows were compelled 

 to remain below abashed. This comedy lasted for about half an hour, and the whole length and 

 breadth of the garden was filled with sparrows, when at last, love for its mate made the fugitive 





/ 



THE GROUND PARRAKEET (Pczoporinus formosus). 



return to its room ; on this it was seized and put into the cage, where it was most tenderly received 

 by its companion, and the crowd outside dispersed. In this country the Waved Parrots can be 

 kept for whole weeks out of doors. In the spring of 1861, two pairs of these birds flew from a cage 

 to the estate of a noted collector in Belgium ; they betook themselves to the tops of some high 

 trees in a large park, and were lost during some time. While they remained at large, as it after- 

 wards proved, they had made their nest, and reared a number of young ones. The owner of the 

 property surprised a whole flock of from ten to twelve in a field of oats, where they were helping 

 themselves ; from that time they were enticed with proper food, and before the winter ten birds 

 were captured. Unfortunately, it was impossible to observe those that were still at liberty, as it 

 would have been most interesting to learn if the strangers could survive one of our winters. 



THE CORELLA. 



The Corella (Nymphicus Nova Hollandiccc) is closely allied to the Cockatoos, although 

 belonging to the group of True Parrots. These birds are fully a foot long, and nearly the same in 

 their spread of wing. The plumage is very variegated in its markings ; the fore part of the head, 

 the tuft, and cheeks, are lemon colour ; the ear-coverings bright orange ; the back of the neck, die 



