14 BAUER'S PABBAKEET. 



M. Alfred Kousse, of Fontenay-le-Comte, reports a brood in 1884, 

 from an acclimatised pair of these birds, bnt we are not aware that 

 bis success in this respect has been repeated elsewhere; for these 

 Parrakeets are not common even in their native land, South Western 

 Australia, and are very seldom imported; so that they command 

 a high price in the market, and are bought by amateurs at from £3 

 to £4 a pair. 



The female is not quite as large as her mate, is duller in colouring 

 than he is, and has the head smaller and somewhat more flattened; 

 otherwise the sexes are indistinguishable. 



Like most of the Broadtails, the Bauer is hardy and a frugal feeder, 

 preferring canary-seed, but eating hemp and oats, which last should 

 always be offered to it when first imported, as it is usually fed on 

 them during the voyage, and an abrupt change of diet is often pro- 

 ductive of disastrous consequences. 



If it is desired to breed these birds in captivity, a healthy accli- 

 matised pair of adult birds should be selected, and a properly constructed 

 out-door aviary, of not less than ten feet by six, set apart for their 

 special use; or, if it be desired to associate them with others of their 

 congeners, these should be of size to cope successfuly with the Bauers, 

 which, as we have said, are tyranically disposed towards weaker subjects 

 than themselves; but in this case the area of the enclosure should be 

 proportionately greater. 



The Bauer breeds in the hollow branches, technically " spouts ", of 

 the gum trees in its native Valleys, and a decaying log, or an arti- 

 fically constructed wooden nest must be supplied for domestic purposes 

 in the aviary; when the birds being of an inquisitive turn will soon 

 commence to explore the new article of furniture, and probably end 

 by making the use of it for which it was placed in their abode. 



If the floor of the open portion of the aviary can be laid down with 

 grass, it will not only add materially to the appearance of the place, 

 but tend to the comfort and amusement, and consequently the health 

 of the inmates; which, it must be remembered, are ground Parrakeets; 

 that is to say, seek, in their wild state, the greater part of their food 

 among the growing grasses of their native land, upon the seeds of 

 which they mainly subsist. 



It is said that they also eat the larvee of the white ant, so common 

 in decaying logs in the Australian bush, and this is by no means 

 improbable; but in captivity these birds, and their congeners, with one 

 or two exceptions, do extremely well without insect food, at least for 

 some generations ; for, ultimately, all aviary bred Parrakeets, of whatever 

 species, appear to degenerate, and it is just possible that this 



