' Young Qitrni Alextindra Pdrralcccts . 1G3 
some rotten -n-ood, which she bit up, and finally laid seven eggs 
on it. 
The nesting-box hangs about 12 feet up on the wall 
of a roosting house of an aviary. The Parrakeets were con- 
stantly seen to mate, indeerl this took place certainly twice 
a day when the hen left the nest. 
The male bird fed her well fir-t of all, and then she 
immediately flew back to her eggs. After she had laid her 
full complement of eggs, I think the mating ceased. 
At 'the beginning of May I had not seen her for some 
days, and becoming nervous as to whether she was alive, I 
placed a ladder under the nesting-box, but had hardly mounted 
toward,; it, before she popped out, looking perfectly well. 
By means of a door at the end of the box, which is hung 
horizontally on the wall, I could look in, and at the far end 
I managed to count seven eggs. A week afterwards thfe 
young ones were heard making a raucous scraping call as 
they were being fed. The female remained almost entirely in 
the nesting box for nearly three weeks, but the male went in, 
probably to feed her; yet when he was in, there was always 
a great noise from the youngsters; so great, that I really 
began to hope that at least five out of the seven eggs had 
hatched 
The first day that the young Parrakeets were heard 
calling, was the 12th of May. 
On the 31st, I ventured to look in the nesting-box once 
more, and although slightly disappointed (for one is never 
satisfied!) at there being only two; my momentary feelings 
of disappointment were soon turned into those of triumphant 
pleasure, when I saw that they were two tine birds, com- 
pletely feathered, and looking as far as colour goes, rather 
washed-out editions of their mother. 
As I write (3rd of June) they are not yet out of the 
nest, but I am hoping that they will be liefoi-e long, and 
that with safety. 
Another pair of these Parrakeets is nesting. 
They are prolific layers, at any rate in captivity, one 
hen having laid at least ten eggs in April and May, but 
she was not satisfied with her nest, and scrambled alx)ut, so 
that most of the eggs were pierced by her claws. 
