Parrots. 
"5 
The Rf.i) Rosella (Platyccnis cxnuius) is the one most 
frequently kept, and it is. I think, the handsomest of the .^ronp, 
but amont;-st so many lovely varieties, this is a matter of individ- 
ual taste. The sexes are alike, or nearly so. the male being- rather 
heavier in build with a lar.q'er head. A good deal has been 
written about sexing these birds. At one time it was thought 
that all hens had a green spot at the back of the head. Whilst 
it is true that some hens have this distinction. I have had several 
that were quite as red-headed as the cocks. On the other hand, 
I have never had a male with the nape green. Another supposed 
difference was i)ointed out by our member. Dr. Lovell-Keays. 
He states in B.N. Vol. v. New Series that all hens are barred on 
the under-wing-coverts, and that the cocks are not. This mav 
be true of adults, but I don't think that it is with the yoiuig ones, 
as the last time T reared any number of them, I took particular 
notice of tliis and found that all the young ones had barred 
under-wing-coverts.* Of course, wdien you have a breeding pair 
it is quite easy to distinguish the cock from the hen. The diffi- 
culty arises when you have a single bird to sex and no others to 
compare it with. One of my hens is a very brilliantly coloured 
bird, and if put with a number of young birds, say under one 
year old. would be almost certain to be picked out as a cock, 
even by an expert. 
The Pennant (P. clcgaiis) is another lovely Broadtail. 
In this case the hen is distinctly smaller than the cock, her head 
markedly so. A good many years ago, some rather lively cor- 
respondence occurred in the Avicultural Magazine on the sexing 
of these Parrots. That very successful aviculturist. Mr. Farrar. 
laid down some very definite rules for picking out the sexes, 
based on his observation of some young birds he had bred. But 
it was afterwards proved that his young ones were hybrids be- 
tween the Pennant and the closely allied Adelaide (P. adeladiae ). 
Although I have had two or three pairs I have not succeeded in 
breeding them. 
The Mealt.y Rosella (P. paJlidiccps) is a contrast in 
colour to the last species, but is equally attractive. Although 
frequently imported it is not so easy to secure true pairs. I have 
only had odd birds. Once I had a very good breeding hen, that 
* The young- of many species re,semble the adult female and this is the 
case with the Rosella. — Ed. 
