ROSE-HILL PAEEAKEET. 3 



water, must then, be placed at the parents' disposal, as well as boiled 

 oats and maize : hay-seed the Rosellas enjoy vastly, and a few handf uls 

 will afford them not only occupation but amusement, and be a whole- 

 some change of food as well. 



These birds are susceptible of being tamed, and will even learn to 

 repeat a few words, that is to say the male will, for his lady- wife has 

 not much talent in this direction. 



The Rosella is a very noisy bird, almost as much so as the Cockatiel, 

 and is, consequently, scarcely to be recommended as a cage-pet to 

 persons of weak nerves: in a large aviary, however, he will do very 

 well indeed, and constitute one of its chief attractions, for he is, 

 apparently, quite conscious of his personal charms, and is never weary 

 of displaying them to the best advantage : everlastingly in motion, and 

 everlastingly warbling, or chattering, he keeps the whole place in a 

 commotion, and must on no account be trusted with other birds weaker 

 or more defenceless than himself, for, despite his rich dress and gen- 

 tlemanly deportment, he is a decided "tartar", and, especially during 

 the breeding season, brooks no intruder near his domicile. 



In the Australian bush the Rosella is of very common occurrence, 

 frequenting especially the neighbourhood of cultivated lands, where it 

 commits sad havoc with the crops, and is consequently detested by 

 the farmers, who shoot and snare it whenever they get the chance, 

 and destroy its nest without mercy or compunction, which is a stupid 

 thing to do, as these birds always command a good price in the home 

 market, and find ready purchasers in the Australian towns: but the 

 farmer, whether Australian or English, is not a far-seeing personage 

 and for a slight temporary benefit has no notion but to forego a future 

 emolument that is not very prominently placed before his eyes; and 

 really not always, even then, will he perceive and avail himself of the 

 promised boon. 



There is no doubt that a farmer, or anyone else for that matter, 

 who would undertake to keep and breed, not only the commoner, 

 but especially the rarer species of Parrots, whether in Australia or in 

 South Africa, would make a good speculation, and find a ready market 

 for the produce of his aviaries: in this country the climate is too 

 changeable to permit of the success of such an undertaking, unless 

 perhaps in the extreme south, and even there in a warm and sheltered 

 situation only; but in France a Perrucherie is by no means an uncommon 

 sight, and is a highly remunerative speculation to boot: Parrots, as a 

 rule, are as easily kept as Pigeons, are very nearly, in fact, considering 

 that the Pigeon has but two young to a nest, and the Parrot has, 

 usually, five or six, quite as prolific, and, with the exception of some 



