JAVAN PABBAEEET. 89 



As there is not much difference in the outward appearance of the 

 Javan Parrakeet, properly so called, and its Indian congener, so the two 

 species bear a close resemblance to each other in their mental capacities: 

 they are certainly docile, and not very noisy, but not particularly sus- 

 ceptible of education. If they do not make themselves as disagreeable 

 as some of their relatives by their harsh outcries, neither do they 

 recommend themselves to the notice of amateurs by their powers of 

 speech; an odd specimen, here and there, with much painstaking 

 teaching, will learn a few words, but, as a rule, they cannot be classed 

 with the "Talking Parrots''', at least in our opinion, although Dr. Russ 

 has given instances in which some of these birds have evinced con- 

 siderable powers of imitation. 



This, however, is not to be wondered at, nor should it be taken as 

 an indication, or a proof, that our estimation of the Javan Parrakeet 

 and its near relative is wrong, for in every race, in every species, will 

 be found individuals who in intelligence and docility leave the mass 

 of their fellows immeasurably behind them, and push themselves for- 

 ward, by sheer force of individual merit, to the foremost ranks, whether 

 of birds or men; and this no doubt was the case with the birds spoken 

 of by the eminent ornithologist of Berlin. 



So far as we are aware these birds have not yet been bred in Europe 

 although, in our opinion, from their quiet habits, and susceptibility of 

 being perfectly tamed, there should be no difficulty in the way of 

 their reproduction : but probably the attempt to breed them has never 

 been seriously made. 



Should it be desired to see these birds nest and bring up their 

 young in captivity, we are of opinion that a pair of young individuals 

 fairly tamed and thoroughly acclimatised, should be turned, about May, 

 into a good-sized garden aviary, or even a bird-room, appropriately 

 furnished with hollow logs, or boxes, in the bottom of which half a 

 cocoa-nut husk should be firmly cemented, well supplied with food and 

 water, and, in case of their being placed in a room, an abundance of 

 light and air, but a thorough immunity from draughts; they should 

 not be too frequently disturbed, but should, nevertheless, be paid a 

 visit every day, for the double purpose of replenishing their supplies 

 of food and water, and of preventing their getting wild again, which 

 they would be very apt to do, if left entirely to themselves. 



Should eggs be laid and young ones hatched, it would be advisable 

 to furnish the parents, in addition to their ordinary diet, with soaked 

 seeds of several kinds, especially oats, and, when practicable, with rice 

 in the husk, not forgetting a piece of bread a day old, part of which 

 may be given dry, and the remainder slightly moistened with cold water. 



