74 
BED-WINGED PABBAEEET. 
As we had our douhts of the correctness of these assertions, we 
cross-examined onr friend pretty severely as to the accuracy of his 
recollections, then referring to a period of some years back, and he 
confessed that perhaps it was the Blue Mountain Lory that the natives 
used to treat in the manner he described, and from which he had seen 
the nectarious juices of the wattle trees flowing in a stream; hut he 
was positive as to the correctness of his reminiscences in regard to 
the frequent occurrence of this Parrakeet, and in proof thereof showed 
us a goodly number of wings which he had taken from the birds he 
had shot and preserved. 
So we were satisfled, for we could not bring ourselves to believe 
the first account given by our friend of the Red-wing to be correct, 
it being quite at variance with all that we knew of the bird and its 
habits; for persons who are not naturalists are scarcely to be trusted^ 
in a general way, with regard to the accuracy of their recollections of 
animals, especially when they are suddenly called upon after the lapse 
of a few years to relate their experience; and it is by neglecting the 
thorough sifting of such evidence, that so many mistakes have crept 
into works on Natural History; there is always some risk of taking 
information at second-hand, but occasionally there is none other to bo 
had, in which case the statements made require testing in every possible 
way. 
Dr. Russ is certainly in error when he says: “'Heimat ganz Austra- 
lien”, (it extends over the whole of Australia,) for it is confined to 
the eastern, and especially the north-eastern, portions of that country. 
We are with the doctor, however, entirely, when he says: “It is 
remarkable for its elegance and amiability, and is as enduring as most 
of the genus. It is a pity it so seldom reaches the dealers’ shops.” 
Let us hope that as its various good qualities become better known 
to the philavian public, a demand will be created that will result in a 
more abundant supply of the Red-winged Parrakeet in the bird-market 
than has hitherto been the case. And as a female in the possession 
of Herr Professor Kamphausen has actually laid eggs in Diisseldorf^ 
there seems no reason why the bird should not be bred, by and bye, 
in our aviaries. 
Seeing that the Red-wing is a gentle and tractable bird, it should 
learn to speak, and acquire the use of articulate language, at least to 
as great extent as any of its relations, such as the Rosella, Cockatiel, 
and others of which we have read accounts, as well as seen and possessed 
examples : the fact being that with patience and perseverance any bird 
can be taught to imitate the human voice; even such unlikely subjects 
as the Canary bird, not to speak of the Bullfinch; for individuals of 
