80 TURQUOISINE. 



bird, which not only by its handsome plumage, but its grace and 

 amiability occupies a high position among the diversified inmates of 

 the bird-room.) 



Mr. Wiener says the Turquoisine is "lively and interesting", but 

 does not allude to its disposition, from which omission we may at least 

 conclude that he did not find it hurtful to its companions. 



Mr. Gedney says: "For my own part I candidly confess that Tur- 

 quoisines hold the most prominent place in my estimation of the tribe 

 to which they belong." In the concluding paragraph of the same 

 chapter he remarks: "I ought to add that Turquoisines are extremely 

 gentle in disposition, rarely resenting any interference on the part of 

 weaker birds, and it is also worthy of note . that they may be handled 

 with perfect safety, as they very seldom bite, and when they do it is 

 scarcely more severe than the nip from a Canary's beak." 



On the other hand, a correspondent of the Bazaar wrote: "The 

 Turquoisines seem very cross-grained, especially the hen, who scolds 

 at any bird approaching her, and is never happy if there be another 

 on the seed-tray at the same time as herself." But, as we have already 

 more than once remarked, all the members of one species have not the 

 same disposition; and even in the most amiable family one is apt to 

 meet with a cantankarous individual now and then. 



We cannot bring ourselves to believe, however, that the process of 

 ". manufacturing" hen out of cock Turquoisines has ever been had re- 

 course to in this country, and that for the best of all reasons, it would 

 not "pay", because it would be sure to be found out: however, the 

 following is the modus operandi as related by a recent writer on Parrots 

 and Parrakeets: — "The process consists in pulling out the red patch 

 upon the wings, and destroying the blue face markings by means of 

 caustic, which changes the mask to a dingy brown, leaving only the 

 blue band upon the forehead. The neck feathers receive a few touches 

 from the same magic wand, and the result is a very fair imitation of 

 a hen," — which, we may add, would in a couple of weeks' time be 

 proved to be an impostor by the growth of the red shoulder spot: 

 no, the fraud would not "pay", and we think amateurs need have no 

 fear of being imposed upon by such a paltry swindle. 



The young are greyish green, and without any of the distinctive 

 markings found in the adult birds; they soon moult, however, and in 

 three or four months from the time of leaving the nest, are not to be 

 distinguished from their parents, with whom they continue to remain 

 closely associated until instinct, the following spring, impels them to 

 set up housekeeping on their own account, when, as we have already 

 observed, it will be well to provide them with other mates than their 



