BUDGEBIGAB. 113 



they were unable to do in complete darkness, though a small modicum 

 of light seems to suffice them for the purpose. 



The eggs of this species, like those of all the Parrot family, are 

 white, and vary in number from four to nine, five or six being, per- 

 haps, the average number laid. 



In their wild state these birds have two broods in the season, but 

 in domesticity three or four; not unfrequently, especially when kept 

 indoors, breeding continuously all the year round. 



They are extremely precocious birds; so much so that we have known 

 them pair, lay eggs, and rear young before they had moulted their 

 nest-feathers, and were themselves not more than three or four months 

 old, and in fact we have seen them caress before they had left their 

 nest three weeks ! It is not desirable to permit this, as the offspring 

 of such immature birds are worthless, and the effect of rearing them 

 prejudicial to the youthful parents themselves. 



It is almost superfluous to describe a bird so well known as the 

 Budgerigar, but it would scarcely be en regie not to do so : the ground 

 colour of the plumage is green below, yellow on the upper portion of 

 the body; the head is yellow, the neck, back, and wing coverts are 

 yellow edged with greyish black, the flight feathers black fringed with 

 yellow, the tail is blue in the centre, the other feathers green with 

 yellow spots in the middle; on each side of the beak is a series of 

 deep blue spots, forming an almost continuous line, and below these 

 two or three round black spots, which have been very generally over- 

 looked in the description of these birds. In the adult male the cere 

 of the nostrils is bright blue, in the adult female bluish cream until 

 she has nested, or is about to nest, when it becomes brown: this is 

 the differentiating mark between the sexes, which cannot otherwise be 

 distinguished from each other. The bill is white, and the legs and 

 feet light slate colour. 



These little birds are capable of being completely tamed, but as they 

 bite severely, it is necessary when first taking them in hand to wear 

 stout gloves; it is no less indispensable to clip the feathers of one of 

 their wings, and in the course of a few weeks they become perfectly 

 docile, and may be taught a variety of tricks. While the taming pro- 

 cess is going on, the birds should be kept singly in a little cage, and 

 handled several, times a day; as they are very intelligent, they will 

 soon discover that no harm is intended them, and, losing all fear, 

 they will readily hop from their cage on to the finger that is held 

 out to them, and on which they are to be carried round the room, 

 and even out of doors. 



We have seen it recommended, when the birds are quite familiar, 

 i. i 



