BED SEINING PABBAKEET. 27 



but in the house they can be kept in rude health for a considerable 

 time on canary seed, maize, and oats; a little hemp may be added 

 now and then, also ripe fruit; but animal food of any kind should 

 never be given, and this cannot be too frequently insisted on; but 

 half decayed wood is necessary to their comfort if not to their existence 

 which last will certainly be cut short, unless the birds are provided 

 with a sufficiency of coarse grit, preferably flint stones broken up 

 small; which are a powerful aid to digestion, and serve them when 

 swallowed in lieu of teeth. 



The Red Shining Parrot has a frequent but not disagreeable cry, 

 and as we have said, is eminently docile and in every respect desirable 

 as an inmate of the cage and aviary. 



In writing of the Splendid Pyrrhulopsis Dr. Russ says that it is only 

 found in the Yiti group of the Fiji Islands, "where it attracts attention 

 in the mangrove forests not only by its brilliant colours, but less 

 agreeably by its loud cries''; an assertion, as regards the noise, which 

 requires confirmation. 



The doctor further states that these birds do much damage to the 

 maize crops, and are consequently hateful to the farmers, who pursue 

 them without mercy, and that owing to this persecution they are 

 learning to be watchful and silent; a fact which,' if established, would 

 tend to prove them gifted with no small amount of intelligence. 



"The brood consists of three" according to the same authority, and 

 if taken from the nest, the young birds become very tame. 



The description of the supposed male only is given, and it is said 

 to be an excellent talker, though awkward and clumsy in a cage. 



"With the exception of its gorgeous plumage", continues Dr. Russ, 

 "I have failed to find any pleasant qualities in the Red Shining 

 Parrakeet, nevertheless I believe that all these large Parrakeets would 

 develope a completely different character, if they were kept in a large 

 aviary, where they had room to fly about", which is incontestable. 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. Diction's account of 

 Pyrrhulopsis splendens. 



The Red Shining Parrakeet, as P. splendens is called, is most like 

 the King Parrot both in colour and shape, so that it is not surprising 

 some authors have called it by their generic name, Aprosmictus. 



The beak and feet are black; its head and breast are dark crimson. 

 There is a blue band at the heck, and the back is dark shining green, 

 from which it may get its name of Shining Parrakeet. The tail feathers, 

 according to Dr. Russ, are "blue with green edges at the base on the 



