Grass Parrakccts in Captivity. 
7 
sliL;htly heated. 1 had many deaths from chill in both aviaries, 
but the Bourke's were not among- the casualties wliich shows 
that they can stand unfavourable temperature conditions as well 
as most Parrakeets, and better than some. 
In sjjrini; I removed everything from the two aviaries ex- 
cept the Bourke's and two pairs of Red-capped Parrakeets. The 
pair in the large aviary laid an egg or two but sat very steadily, 
and hatched nothing. The pair in the other aviary selected an 
enormous barrel which would ahnost have held a Macaw, and 
succeeded in rearing two young. ( )ne of the latter damaged its 
head badly soon after it left the nest, but recovered from this 
injury only to die later from a chill. The old hen died of septic 
fever the same autumn. 
The following season I remoxed the Red-capped Parra- 
keets from the large aviary, so as to leave the three Bourke's 
absolutely undisturbed. The cock of the pair killed the odd cock 
as soon as he came into breeding condition. Eggs were laid 
and two young fully reared only to commit suicide a few weeks 
later. A second clutch from the parents failed to hatch. 
The cock of the other pair mated with his surviving 
daughter, but she died egg-bound during" a chilly spell of late 
autumn weather. Her father survived until last summer when 
he met with a fatal accident. 
The pair are still alive but have done no good since they 
were moved from their first home. In 1915 they were kept in a 
large cage and did not try to breed. In 1916 they spent the 
summer in a small covered aviary where the hen dropped an egg 
from the perch. This season they had an outdoor aviary, but 
got no further than inspecting the nest box. I thought of leaving 
them out all winter, but latterly have decided to bring them into 
a warm room, where it will be safe to allow them to nest before 
the fine weather returns. Bourke's are difificult birds to sex, 
especially when seen singly; the other Grass Parrakeets are 
much easier, as the blue frontal band is very small or altogether 
wanting in the female. Owing no doubt to the'r desert habitat, 
Bourke's do not seem particularly keen on green-food, though 
they should never be without it, especially when rearing young. 
The other species are very fond of green stuff; groundsel suits 
them as well as anything and they will also eat apple. 
