102 BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON. 
This leads me to say that in any attempt to acclimatise Parrots, 
such as those attempted by Mr. Buxton at Northrepps and in Surrey, 
we should ask ourselves what end we propose to gain. There seems 
to be no reason why some of the species should not really be accli- 
matised, that is become really wild birds. The Cockatoos, I conceive, 
might. But would it be desirable that they should? Do we want 
Cockatoos added to our native birds? I imagine the farmers would 
find them a great nuisance. Of course, if we only want to adorn our 
own grounds with various exotic species, we have only to choose the 
sorts we admire most. But there are one or two species which would 
be a great addition to our native Fauna, and probably annoy no one. 
' It astonishes me that greater efforts have not been made to acclimatise 
the Budgerigar. There have been times when this lovely bird has 
been brought over in such quantities, that it has been sold for two 
shillings and ninepence a pair. Those people who have aviaries might 
do something. The difficulty is with the first letting out. A bird 
let out for the first time has to be followed up. One must not only 
know where it is, but it must know where its master is. After it has 
once or twice come back to its cage, the difficulty is over; and this 
is what makes it so easy to train Cockatoos, Macaws, Amazons, and 
Grey Parrots to liberty. They are easily seen and heard, and if they 
have flown too far, are striking to strangers, so that one is quickly 
put on their track. But Budgerigars are so small, that they are easily 
lost sight of. Acclimatising them might be done in one of two ways. 
Either the experiment may be tried with single specimens which are 
very tame, so tame as to fly on to the hand; or with great numbers 
which have been accustomed for some time to be fed near the wire 
of an out-door aviary. One might trust to some of the number coming 
back to feed, and so bringing the others, till they had learned to find 
their own food. Of course the experiment will best succeed in a very 
strictly preserved country, where all the proprietors are friends. The 
Hawks will be shot, and a word to the gamekeepers will save the 
Parrakeets from a like fate. Blue Mountain Lories, I think, might 
also be acclimatised, and with advantage. It would be a great ad- 
ditional beauty to our woods', were so splendid a bird to be seen 
amongst w them. The Platyceri , I am afraid, are too shy and timid to 
be likely birds for successful experiments; but Amazons and Greys 
are not at all birds to try. Their whole recommendation is for strictly 
cage birds, and they can always be bought so cheaply, that there is 
but little advantage to be gained from their acclimatisation. They are 
not particularly beautiful, and their natural cries are far from being a 
sound to be added to those of our woods. 
