Some .\ otcs OH Haiii^iiig I'arrtikccts. 
recollections of those 1 had noticed in shops antl at the Zoo 
were of fluffy little bundles of dull green feathers lookin;;- 
\ery nnich like lovebirds. 1 was therefore very agreeabl 
surprised at the transformation when 1 saw the birds some 
months later. One young male Blue-crowned was still in 
poor body feather, but an adult pair and the Ceylon were 
wonderfully improved. The old cock Blue-crowned, mdeed, 
was not very inferior to the departed Sclater's in beauty. The 
greater part of the plumage is rich green, somewhat i)aler on 
the breast and underparts; rump and a round patch on the 
throat intense crimson: centre of the crown dark blue, 
shoulders washed with yellowish buff; beak and eye dark. 
The female lacks the blue crown and red throat i)atch. 
The Ceylon was decidedly less handsome and less elegant 
in shape; plumage yellowish-green with a small red patch on 
the throat and rump. 1 turned the birds this summer into h 
large outdoor aviary where they have done extremely well, 
and shown no resentment of the abominable weather which 
has put budgerigars on the sick list almost daily. They like 
a varied diet — banana, grapes, sugar and water, canary seed 
and fioweiing grass. They spend a good deal of time perching" 
in a normal position, only " hanging" occasionally. Their 
flight is swift, straight and quail-like, and less buoyaiit than 
that of a lovebird. The Ceylon is unsociable and morose but 
the others keep together except when feeding; they are incline 1 
to be cheeky towards larger birds, though not really spiteful. 
The display of the cocks is very quaint and beautiful; they 
erect the crimson feathers of the lump and throat till they 
sparkle like jewels in the sunshine, and run and jump about 
bowing and turning quickly, at the same time uttering" a 
peculiar hissing noise, not unlike a courting weaver-bird. Their 
normal notes are a kind of squeaking" and twittering. 
Hanging-parrakeets, of which there are manv species, 
are certainly desirable objects for aviculture and every effort 
should be made to import them with proper care. Once their 
initial delicacy has been overcome they seem liardy enougii 
and the handsomest of the lovebirds look as coarse and plain 
beside them as a finch is apt to do when compared wiiii 
a warbler. 
