90 
JAVAN PABBAKEET. 
In tlieir wild state the Javans breed in holes in trees, laying three 
or four eggs, which are hatched in from eighteen to twenty-one days, 
and they usually have two broods in the season, which extends from 
February or March to July or August, when they fall into moult. 
If kept out of doors, they should be provided with a snug retreat 
to which they can retire, when minded to do so, during wet and cold 
weather: they do not bathe much, but, hke many other kinds of Parrots 
and Parrakeets, are fond of standing out in the rain, to catch the 
falling drops on their bodies, when they spread out their wings and 
tail with every indication of delight, to receive the passing shower as 
it gently descends upon their backs from Heaven. They are fond, 
too, of rolling themselves in wet grass, or flying swiftly through the 
terminal branches of trees after or during a fall of rain, when they 
often suck up, rather than drink, the pearly drops of water adhering 
to the leaves. 
It is scarcely necessary to repeat, after all we have said upon the 
subject of keeping captive Parrots from drinking, that the Javan should 
never be debarred from water, for which “sop’^ especially bread and 
milk sop, is not by any means a substitute; but is, on the contrary, 
a fertile source of ill-health with these poor birds, by forcing them to 
over-eat themselves, in order to obtain a sufficiency of moisture to 
supply the demands of their system. 
Fruit and green meat, such as wo have already recommended for 
other species, should also be provided, sparingly in cold weather, 
but freely during the warm summer months, and especially if there 
are young birds in the nest to be fed. 
Java, where our Parrot chiefly abounds, being a Dutch possession, 
it is of more common occurrence on the continent, and especially in 
Holland, than with us, but even there it commands a high price, being 
quoted at from sixty to ninety marks (shillings) in his Randboolc by 
Dr. Euss, and this is the more to be regretted that, as may bo gathered 
from what has been said about it in the preceding pages, it is a very 
desirable bird, well suited by its habits and disposition for domesticity, 
but it is out of the English dealers^ groove, and hence is seldom seen 
in England. 
We know of few prettier sights than a large aviary full of Parrots 
and Parrakeets, flying, climbing, hopping, and tumbling about all over 
the place; their bright colours, generally elegant shapes, and lively 
active movements where they have room to exercise their wings, cannot 
fail to make a favourable impression on the observer, especially if by 
chance he should happen to be deaf. 
We must confess that there is a black side to this charming picture. 
