I'isiis to Members' Ai'iarics. 
157 
have been added, will become useful parrakeet aviaries. 
When all is complete Capt. Rattigan will have very 
practical and fairly extensive avicultural accommodation, and 
I wish him the best of luck with same— with the Devonshire 
climate to assist he certainly should get good success. 
Mrs. Burgess' Birdroom .and Birds (Continued from 
page 114). Vasa Parrot {C oracopsis I'asa). A rare, uncom- 
mon, sombrely coloured, but handsome species; at the present 
time the possession of this species is most certainly an acquisi- 
tion, but, if I remember rightly Mrs. Burgess has a true pair. 
It is a native of Madagascar and has been introduced in 
Reunion Island. 
The adult male is dark blackish-brown, with the wings, 
rump, upper tail-coverts and tail glaucous-grey; wing-coverts 
dark blackish-brown; naked skin round eyes yellowish; beak a 
mixture of light and dark horn-colour, legs and feet dusky; 
irides dusky-brown. Total length 20 inches, of which the tail 
measures 8 inches. 
The female has her plumage less lustrous and of a slightly 
lighter hue than that of the male. 
Mrs. Burgess' bird, or pair, was in immaculate condition, 
and appeared to be very steady and tame. 
Pennant's Parrakeet (Platycercus elegans). Mrs. 
Burgess' pair were lovely, a grand rich colour, in fact perfect 
in every respect, and it seemed a great pity and an awful waste 
that they had not an enclosure to themselves and a chance 'o 
reproduce their kind. 
These handsome Australian broadtails are too well known 
to call for a description of their plumage — there are few, if any, 
of the Australian psittaci that surpass them in their gorgeous 
and beautifully harmonised plumage. 
When breeding they are not, as a rule, safe company for 
other parrakeets, so should have an enclosure to themselves. 
Alexandrine Parrakeets (Palaeornis alexandrina). A 
grand pair of birds, but too well known to call for further 
comment. 
This species is usually quite ready to breed if given a 
roomy aviary, and mostly do not interfere with other parrakeets 
unless these be closely allied species. 
