LE8SBB LEMON-CBESTFjI) COCKATOO. 
19 
of the month, is certainly very singular, and we are of opinion that 
it was simply a coincidence and nothing more. 
The food of this species is hemp and canary seed, oats and maize, 
the latter boiled, green food, such as watercress, endive, dandelions, and 
so onj they are also very fond of the flowers of mignonette, groundsel- 
tops, and the opening huds of the dandelion: they require water to 
drink, but “sop” is not fit for them, and milk or meat should never 
he given, as both meat and milk heat the blood of these birds, and 
cause skin irritation which impels the poor creatures to pluck out their 
feathers. 
We dwell more particularly upon the latter point that many people 
hold a contrary opinion, and never allow their birds to drink, but force 
them to eat bread and milk sop. 
It would be curious, and interesting, to trace the origin of the deeply- 
rooted prejudice that exists, in this country and in no other, as far as 
we can gather, against giving water to captive Parrots; but we have 
entirely failed to discover whence it arose, or when; but undoubtedly 
it must have been in the “dark ages” of bird-keeping, and we hope 
it will soon die out, although the authorities at the Zoological Gardens 
in London still cling to it in an illogical and fitful manner; for we 
have seen water allowed to the occupants of some cages in the “Parrot 
House”, and withheld from others of the same species placed at the 
opposite end of the room. On questioning the keeper as to why water 
was not allowed, he seemed to bo quite in the dark, and said he sup- 
posed it was in order to prevent the birds making a mess in their 
cages : which, certainly, is no sufficient reason for the actual and positive 
cruelty of keeping a bird, that naturally drinks, from access to water, 
and compelling it, although by nature a small eater, to swallow a large 
quantity of wet food for the sake of the moisture contained in it; and 
hence, without doubt, one cause of the very recent dates attached to 
most of the cages in the Parrot House at the, otherwise, admirably 
conducted Institution in the EegenPs Park, familiarly known to so many 
visitors to London as the “Zoo”. 
We say “most of the cages” advisedly, for there is one veteran, a 
Black Madagascar Parrot {Psittacus Vasa), that has existed there, with- 
out water! for fifty-three years, having been presented to the Society 
in May, 1831! and must have been at least a year or two old then: at 
present this bird shows no sign of decrepitude, beyond a roughness 
of the plumage and a drooping of the wings. 
Nevertheless, the fact of the survival of this veteran under what we 
cannot but consider most unfavourable conditions is no argument in 
favour of the system of diet pursued by its custodians, but, on the 
