NEW ZEALAND PABBAKEET. 
15 
favourite, and is with every one who knows him, so that we expect 
before long to find him one of the commonest of cage pets. 
As we have said, his voice is peculiar, but not disagreeable, resem- 
bling somewhat the subdued bleating of a young goat, whence his 
German name of Ziegensittich. The female is a very silent bird, and 
beyond a faint squeak, or bleat, now and then, we have not heard 
her make any kind of noise. 
When first imported these birds should be fed on oats, part of 
which should be boiled before being given to them: many of them 
will also eat crumb of bread steeped for a few minutes in cold water, 
and then squeezed nearly dry; they drink a good deal, and should 
always have access to a free supply of clean water. 
Green food must be given sparingly at first, as they are apt to eat 
it so greedily as to bring on diarrhasa: after a time they can be ac- 
customed to canary seed as their general diet, adding oats and hemp 
seed now and then as a variety. 
Sometimes they are imported in large numbers, and can then be 
bought cheaply ; at other times they are scarce, and barely to be had 
at any price. 
The Hon. and Rev. F. G. Dutton’ s account of the New Zealand 
Parrakcet (Cyanoramphus Novae Zealandise). 
This bird resembles the Pennant’s Parrakeet in its habits : it is shy 
and gentle, a quiet bird, and very fond of bathing. I have known 
three, of which two were talkers, but none of them tame enough to 
allow themselves to be handled. The two that talked said several 
sentences, but did not pick up anything fresh. They are very attractive 
cage-birds for any one who likes quiet birds, but they are rather 
wanting in character. I dare say they would breed readily in an 
aviary, and then, if any one would be at the pains to rear the young 
by hand, I think they would make the most delightful pets. Mine 
eat hemp and canary seed, and had plain water. 
