A Retrospect. 
147 
Finally, I agreed to purchase the rarer Parra.veet.i, take 
all the risk and 1 was to be paid the English price. 
Amongst otliers 1 bought a pair of Hooded J'arrakeets 
for which I had to give £io out there. 1 got them hume per 
fectly and then although they were one of the pairs particu- 
larly mentioned, she would not take them — never again ! 
After this I had a lovely collection in my aviaries, 
Diamond Doves galore, Bicheno's, Cherry, Gouldian, Parrot, 
and Zebra Finches; several species of Mannikins; not to men- 
tion Malachite Sunbirds and all the other African birds. 
1 also sold a lot, and actually covered expenses of pur- 
chase, so my own birds only cost me my labour. 
If I ever go abroad again, I shall once more try my hand, 
the interest is very great, particularly if you are a good sailor. 
Don't rely on getting good soft food, or mea' worms 
abroad; you won't; and take your bird medicines with you and 
a scent-sprayer to wash the birds with if they won't wasli them 
selves, and some won't. 
One curious thing was that, although 1 asked at every 
Zoo and every bird shop, I only found one man who krew or 
had seen the Painted Finch (Emblctua picta). Painted Finch 
is the local name for the Gouldian and more than once my 
hopes were raised only to be dashed to the ground. 
In Sydney the easiest birds to procure are Zebras and 
Diamond Sparrows, then White-eyes, and strangely enough 
Goldfinches, the catching of which is a very popular pastime. 
Talking of Gouldians, I always think that this is the most 
disappointing bird there is; it is certainly beautiful and fairly 
hardy and yet it is distinctly on the lethargic side, and by no 
means a free breeder. 
And yet if there was an importation of Australian birds, 
the Gouldians would be snapped up at once; everyone ho,)es and 
secretly believes that they are going to obtain one of the breed- 
ing pairs, and yet how few do ! 
