JENBAYA GONUBE. 63 



her head incessantly, unless when he is feeding her, or asleep, or she 

 is performing the same kind and soothing office for him. 



Such an affectionate couple would no doubt make exemplary parents, 

 if they only decided to continue the species, or at least help to do 

 so, in captivity; but so far, with the exception of a pair belonging to 

 a lady in Vienna, Frau von Proschek, they have not even produced 

 eggs in Europe, and unfortunately those were barren; but no doubt 

 success can be obtained, and will be by-and-by, though few amateurs 

 have the necessary accommodation and appliances for making the 

 experiment with any chance of a satisfactory result. 



The Jendaya is not at all fastidious in the matter of its food, but 

 will live and thrive on a diet of canary and hemp seed, with a little 

 boiled maize thrown in for a change sometimes. Of ripe fruit it will 

 also partake occasionally, but care must be exercised in giving it dainties 

 of any kind, which have a tendency to derange the digestive apparatus* 

 and cause the bird to tear out its feathers by the roots, making itself 

 an object pitiable to behold; instead of, as it should be, "a, thing of 

 beauty and a joy for ever." 



It may not be amiss to repeat here what we have already more 

 than once observed, that Parrots of every kind, should have access to 

 water both for drinking and bathing, whenever the inclination takes 

 them to bathe or drink. Coarse sand, or rather small gravel, is quite 

 as essential to their well-being as water, and soft half decayed wood 

 not only affords a never-ending source of amusement, but is also 

 necessary for preserving most members of the Parrot family in health ; 

 for they eat it, and the woody fibre seems to exert a beneficial effect 

 upon their economy. 



The Jendaya, like all the other Oonures, is extremely fond of whittling, 

 to use an Americanism, and should never be debarred the option of 

 indulging in such an innocent and natural recreation; for, in their 

 wild state, they breed in holes they excavate, or at least arrange, in 

 the decayed trunks or limbs of trees ; and probably if a soft log were 

 more often given to them in captivity, the association of ideas thus 

 evoked might lead them to consider that they were not fulfilling their 

 destiny by refusing, or neglecting, to bear their part in the great work 

 of continuing the species, and decide them to set about doing so at 

 once; for we have found that birds which for years had made no 

 attempt to nest, immediately commenced to do so when suitable 

 conditions were found available; that is to say when appropriate 

 nesting material was placed within their reach. 



In Dr. Karl Buss's account of this Conure he records the history 

 of a pair that were kept by Herr V. Schlechtendal, who narrates 



