JAVAjV pabbakeet. 
89 
As fhere is not much difference in the outward appearance of the 
Javan Parrakeet, properly so called, and its Indian congener, so the two 
species bear a close resemblance to each other in their mental capacities : 
they are certainly docile, and not very noisy, but not particularly sus- 
ceptible of education. If they do not make themselves as disagreeable 
as some of their relatives by their harsh outcries, neither do they 
recommend themselves to the notice of amateurs by their powers of 
speech^ an odd specimen, here and there, with much painstaking 
teaching, will learn a few words, but, as a rule, they cannot be classed 
with the ''Talking Parrots”, at least in our opinion, although Dr. Russ 
has given instances in which some of these birds have evinced con- 
siderable powers of imitation. 
This, however, is not to be wondered at, nor should it be taken as 
an indication, or a proof, that our estimation of the Javan Parrakeet 
and its near relative is wrong, for in every race, in every species, will 
be found individuals who in intelligence and docility leave the mass 
of their fellows immeasurably behind them, and push themselves for- 
ward, by sheer force of individual merit, to the foremost ranks, whether 
of birds or men; and this no doubt was the case with the birds spoken 
of by the eminent ornithologist of Berlin. 
So far as we are aware these birds have not yet been bred in Europe, 
although, in our opinion, from their quiet habits, and susceptibility of 
being perfectly tamed, there should be no difficulty in the way of 
their reproduction: but probably the attempt to breed them has never 
been seriously made. 
Should it be desired to see these birds nest and bring up their 
young in captivity, we are of opinion that a pair of young individuals, 
fairly tamed and thoroughly acclimatised, should be turned, about May, 
into a good-sized garden aviary, or even a bird-room, appropriately 
furnished with hollow logs, or boxes, in the bottom of which half a 
cocoa-nut husk should be firmly cemented, well supplied with food and 
water, and, in case of their being placed in a room, an abundance of 
light and air, but a thorough immunity from draughts; they should 
not be too frequently disturbed, but should, nevertheless, be paid a 
visit every day, for the double purpose of replenishing their supplies 
of food and water, and of preventing their getting wild again, which 
they would be very apt to do, if left entirely to themselves. 
Should eggs be laid and young ones hatched, it would be advisable 
to furnish the parents, in addition to their ordinary diet, with soaked 
seeds of several kinds, especially oats, and, when practicable, with rice 
in the husk, not forgetting a piece of bread a day old, part of which 
may be given dry, and the remainder slightly moistened with cold water. 
