90 JAVAN PARRAKEET. 



In their wild state the Javans breed in holes in trees, laying three 

 or four eggs, which are hatched in from eighteen to twenty-one days, 

 and they usually have two broods in the season, which extends from 

 February or March to July or August, when they fall into moult. 



If kept out of doors, they should be provided with a snug retreat 

 to which they can retire, when minded to do so, during wet and cold 

 weather: they do not bathe much, but, like many other kinds of Parrots 

 and Parrakeets, are fond of standing out in the rain, to catch the 

 falling drops on their bodies, when they spread out their wings and 

 tail with every indication of delight, to receive the passing shower as 

 it gently descends upon their backs from Heaven. They are fond, 

 too, of rolling themselves in wet grass, or flying swiftly through the 

 terminal branches of trees after or during a fall of rain, when they 

 often suck up, rather than drink, the pearly drops of water adhering 

 to the leaves. 



It is scarcely necessary to repeat, after all we have said upon the 

 subject of keeping captive Parrots from drinking, that the Javan should 

 never be debarred from water, for which "sop", especially bread and 

 milk sop, is not by any means a substitute; but is, on the contrary, 

 a fertile source of ill-health with these poor birds, by forcing them to 

 over-eat themselves, in order to obtain a sufficiency of moisture to 

 supply the demands of their system. 



Fruit and green meat, such as we have already recommended for 

 other species, should also be provided, sparingly in cold weather, 

 but freely during the warm summer months, and especially if there 

 are young birds in the nest to be fed. 



Java, where our Parrot chiefly abounds, being a Dutch possession, 

 it is of more common occurrence on the continent, and especially in 

 Holland, than with us, but even there it commands a high price, being 

 quoted at from sixty to ninety marks (shillings) in his Handbook by 

 Dr. Russ, and this is the more to be regretted that, as may be gathered 

 from what has been said about it in the preceding- pages, it is a very 

 desirable bird, well suited by its habits and disposition for domesticity, 

 but it is out of the English dealers' groove, and hence is seldom seen 

 in England. 



We know of few prettier sights than a large aviary full of Parrots 

 and Parrakeets, flying, climbing, hopping, and tumbling about all over 

 the place; their bright colours, generally elegant shapes, and lively 

 active movements where they have room to exercise their wings, cannot 

 fail to make a favourable impression on the observer, especially if by 

 chance he should happen to be deaf. 



We must confess that there is a black side to this charming picture, 



