Uvcean Parrakeel . 
217 
sav, however. I have never met anyone who had aclnally done or seen this 
done. 
Above it is a rich brownish oclire, below a very pale buff; the tail i.s 
black with white spots near the ends of the feathers, which are very con- 
spicuous when the bird flies. The crown is black, the eyebrow while or 
fawn and there is a black streak below the eye, the whole giving the effect 
of a black and while striped head. Length about eiglit inches. 
(To be conlimicd ) . 
■Uvoeaii ipanakcet. 
Nymphiais iivceeiisis. 
By the Hon. and Rtv. Canon Button. 
My experience of these parrakeet.s is very limited. The 
first specimen I had was boiiglit from Abrahams many years ago. 
I do not think it was healthy when it was sent me and it died in 
a day or two. 
A few years ago Mr. Hamlyn sent me eight. They 
seemed well enough for me to keep them, but one ))y one 
they sickened off and died. I think that " no specific cause of 
death " was returned by the prosector. But it was possibh' 
septicaemia. I can hardly think, looking at the shape of their 
bills, that th.e\' are birds tliat want soft food. The shape suggests 
grubs rather than that. Abrahams recommended mealworms for 
the one he sold me. It ate about one. The others would not 
look at them. I think we want to know more about their food 
in New Caledonia. 
My experience is altogether insufficient to go upon, but 
though they have kept them at the Gardens for certainly twelve 
months, they have never kept them much longer, and they 
are too expensive for a parson who has parochial claims to 
experiment upon. 
