PILEATED PARRAKEET. 11 



but it is reasonable to conclude, that they are not as hardy as many of 

 their congeners in captivity. 



Owing to the scarcity of the Pileated Parrakeet in its native country, 

 and the rarity with which it is impoi"ted into this, a good specimen 

 commands a high price in the bird-market, and the young ones, already 

 referred to, were readily disposed of on arrival, at prices varying from 

 £3 to £5 each. 



Incredible as it may appear, this rare and beautiful bird has been 

 twice exhibited at the Crystal Palace Bird Show, without attracting 

 the attention of the Judges, who awarded the prize on one occasion 

 to an indifferent specimen of Pennant's Parrakeet, and on the other 

 to something else; truly a casting of pearls before swine, which shall 

 not occur again; the fact being, that the majority of people do not 

 know a good bird when they see one. In palliation, however, of the 

 conduct of the Palace authorities, it may be here incidentally mentioned, 

 that the light is anything but good at the Bird Shows that are held 

 there every year. 



Dr. Russ, of Berlin, who passes for an authority, does not even 

 mention the Pileated Parrakeet, which, as far as the writer of these 

 remarks is aware, has previously been described by Gould alone. True, 

 an anonymous contributor to the Boys Own Annual, just mentions it, 

 and calls it Platycercus sjpurius, but affirms it to resemble Barnard's 

 Broad-Tail, which is certainly a wide stretch of imagination, as readers 

 will have an opportunity of judging for themselves; when the latter 

 handsome bird is reached in the course of the present volume. 



In concluding this brief sketch, it will be sufficient to say that the 

 subject of it is one of of the most desirable birds to make a pet of. 

 Elegant of shape and of beautiful plumage, it has the further advantage 

 of not being in the least noisy; it is very tame and gentle, and, once 

 it has become acclimatised, fairly hardy, providing that extremes of 

 cold are avoided. It is very friendly and sociable, and may safely be 

 kept with even the tiniest Waxbills, without the least fear of its doing 

 them an injury. 



On the other hand, it will not learn to speak, and cannot be classed 

 with "The talking Parrots", like many of its congeners; it is rather 

 expensive, too, and when first imported, delicate. It is an inveterate 

 cutter and clipper of wood, a very Gladstone in the matter of timber, 

 if not in any other respect; and cannot, consequently, be kept in a 

 conservatory, or even in an out-door aviary planted with trees and 

 shrubs. 



It seems invidious, however, to take leave of so charming a bird 

 with words of dispraise, and we therefore repeat that among desirable 



