306 
Correspondence. 
keets. Tfie cock, a paiticularly tine bird, was taken trom a wild 
nest, near Melbourne. He is tame enough to come on my head, but 
resents being handled. The hen Rosella has laid eggs, but they have 
never hatched. 
This Spring, I bought an Australian Grey Parrot with pink 
brea-st (Roseate Cockatoo.— Eb.) 
Rob (the cock Rosella) soon shewed a great interest in the 
new-comer, and in May, to my great surprise, he frequently fed 
the Grey Parrot. 
After a time the Grey laid two large eggs (size of pigeon's), 
l)ut sat very irregularly, and the eggs did not hatch. On 
investigation later I found that one of the eggs was fertile. All the 
Summer the friendship between these two birds continued, Rob 
always sitting near his chosen companion. The Hosella hen did 
not show any resentment to her rival. 
Lately the grey bird began to moult and was ill and very 
mopy, sitting with head under her wing. 
I gave Parrish's chemical food which the parrot allowed 
me to put into her beak, but sometimes she screamed and then Rob 
would come bustling up and peck my hands, which I took care to 
protect with gloves. Rob would sit and look at the parrot in the 
saddest way, always close at hand to keep off other birds. Last 
Tuesday the poor Grey lady was dead when I went into the aviary ; 
as soon as I went near, Rob flew to her, and placing his foot on her 
outstretched wing, seemed to defy ms to take her away. All the 
time I was tidying up and feeding the other birds Rob remained on 
guard, it was most pathetic to see him. Later in the day, with 
my incredulous family looking on, I a^ain attempted to remove the 
dead bird, and again Rob put his foot on her and looked fiercely at 
me. However with mv gloved hand I pu=ihed him away, and caried 
off the dear departed Grey. But Rob has not forgotten or forgiven, 
and flies at me ferociously whenever T go into the aviary. 
Is not this a very unusual occurrence? The mating of two 
different species of parrot (there being a hen Rosella present), and 
various other varieties of birds. If I got another hen Pink-breasted 
Parrot, Mill Rob be likely to a"t in the same way ? 
(Mrs.) B. CROYSDALE. 
[I should sav the Rosella (Q) was lacking in vigour, hence 
" Rob's " choice, which will, in all probability, be repeated if you 
procure another Roseate hen. — Ed.] 
Some Correfipondence unavoidahl 1/ held over on-ing fo pressure on 
our space. — Ed. 
Post-Mortem Reports. 
None to hand iil lime nj flninfi It) press. 
