2 ROSE-HILL PARRAKEET. 



smaller than he is, and the tints of her plumage rather less vivid than 

 his. 



The young resemble their parents, but are much less brilliant in 

 appearance: they grow slowly, and seldom assume the adult plumage 

 until quite twelve months old. 



The Eosella is a very hardy bird, caring nothing for our severest 

 winters, providing the aviary in which he is placed is sheltered from 

 the north-east winds, and he has some snug box, or hollow log, to 

 which he and his wife can retire during the coldest nights. 



In the matter of diet, he will do very well on canary, hemp, and 

 oats, with bread-crumbs, and green food of all kinds added: water 

 he should always have access to, although the authorities at the Zoolo- 

 gical Gardens in the Kegent's Park are of a different opinion; but in 

 Australia, we have seen flocks of them frequenting the water-holes and 

 creeks at all hours of the day, and so thirsty are they, that they will 

 drink salt-water if they cannot get any other. 



The Rosella has very frequently been bred in Germany and in France 

 and Belgium as well as in this country, and may now be almost looked 

 upon as a European bird; the greatest obstacle in the way of its 

 successful rearing being the great resemblance of the sexes, which 

 renders it difficult to secure a pair: the female is rather more subject 

 to egg-binding than the other members of the family which have been 

 bred in our aviaries, and requires to be carefully watched at the com- 

 mencement of the nesting season, so that she may be placed under 

 treatment at the very first indication of illness. 



In the matter of inability to lay her eggs, prevention will be found 

 to be always better than cure, and if the bird be strong and healthy, 

 and has had access to old lime, there will be little fear of her being 

 attacked by this distressing complication: when, however, it manifests 

 itself, the bird must be captured, given a dose of castor-oil, have the 

 vent anointed with the same, and be placed in a warm room: then, 

 when the egg has been laid, she had better not be returned to her 

 mate for some time — not at all if she appears to be in the least 

 drooping. 



There is no doubt that during their breeding season in Australia 

 the Rosellas eat a considerable number of insects, notably coleoptera 

 and white ants, which they find in hollow logs and branches: and in 

 captivity we would recommend that a few mealworms, or even scoured 

 gentles be given them when about to nest, as well as when there are 

 young ones to be fed. 



It will be readily understood that seven or eight young Parrakeets 

 will consume a large amount of food, and so bread, soaked in cold 



