LESSER LEMON-CRESTED COCKATOO. 19 



of tlie month, is certainly very singular, and we are of opinion that 

 it was simply a coincidence and nothing more. 



The food of this species is hemp and canary seed, oats and maize, 

 the . latter boiled, green food, such as watercress, endive, dandelions, and 

 so on; they are also very fond of the flowers of mignonette, groundsel- 

 tops, and the opening buds of the dandelion: they require water to 

 drink, but "sop" is not fit for them, and milk or meat should never 

 be given, as both meat and milk heat the blood of these birds, and 

 cause skin irritation which impels the poor creatures to pluck out their 

 feathers. 



"We dwell more particularly upon the latter point that many people 

 hold a contrary opinion, and never allow their birds to drink, but force 

 them to eat bread and milk sop. 



It would be curious, and interesting, to trace the origin of the deeply- 

 rooted prejudice that exists, in this country and in no other, as far as 

 we can gather, against giving water to captive Parrots; but we have 

 entirely failed to discover whence it arose, or when; but undoubtedly 

 it must have been in the "dark ages" of bird-keeping, and we hope 

 it will soon die out, although the authorities at the Zoological Gardens 

 in London still cling to it in an illogical and fitful manner; for we 

 have seen water allowed to the occupants of some cages in the "Parrot 

 House", and withheld from others of the same species placed at the 

 opposite end of the room. On questioning the keeper as to why water 

 was not allowed, he seemed to be quite in the dark, and said he sup- 

 posed it was in order to prevent the birds making a mess in their 

 cages : which, certainly, is no sufficient reason for the actual and positive 

 cruelty of keeping a bird, that naturally drinks, from access to water, 

 and compelling it, although by nature a small eater, to swallow a large 

 quantity of wet food for the sake of the moisture contained in it; and 

 hence, without doubt, one cause of the very recent dates attached to 

 most of the cages in the Parrot House at the, otherwise, admirably 

 conducted Institution in the Begent's Park, familiarly known to so many 

 visitors to London as the "Zoo". 



We say "most of the cages" advisedly, for there is one veteran, a 

 Black Madagascar Parrot (Psittacus Vasa), that has existed there, with- 

 out water! for fifty-three years, having been presented to the Society 

 in May, 1831! and must have been at least a year or two old then: at 

 present this bird shows no sign of decrepitude, beyond a roughness 

 of the plumage and a drooping of the wings. 



Nevertheless, the fact of the survival of this veteran under what we 

 cannot but consider most unfavourable conditions is no argument in 

 favour of the system of diet pursued by its custodians, but, on the 



