BUBGEBIGAB. 
113 
they were unable to do in complete darkness^ tbougb a small modicum 
of light seems to sufB.ce them for the purpose. 
The eggs of this species, like those of all the Parrot family, are 
white, and vary in number from four to nine, five or six being, per- 
haps, the average number laid. 
In their wild state these birds have two broods in the season, but 
in domesticity three or four; not unfrequently, especially when kept 
indoors, breeding continuously all the year round. 
They are extremely precocious birds; so much so that we have known 
them pair, lay eggs, and rear young before they had moulted their 
nest-feathers, and were themselves not more than three or four months 
old, and in fact we have seen them caress before they had left their 
nest three weeks! It is not desirable to permit this, as the offspring 
of such immature birds are worthless, and the effect of rearing them 
prejudicial to the youthful parents themselves. 
It is almost superfiuous to describe a bird so well known as the 
Budgerigar, but it would scarcely be en regie not to do so : the ground 
colour of the plumage is green below, yellow on the upper portion of 
the body; the head is yellow, the neck, back, and wing coverts are 
yellow edged with greyish black, the flight feathers black fringed with 
yellow, the tail is blue in the centre, the other feathers green with 
yellow spots in the middle; on each side of the beak is a series of 
deep blue spots, forming an almost continuous line, and below these 
two or three round black spots, which have been very generally over- 
looked in the description of these birds. In the adult male the cere 
of the nostrils is bright blue, in the adult female bluish cream until 
she has nested, or is about to nest, when it becomes brown: this is 
the differentiating mark between the sexes, which cannot otherwise be 
distinguished from each other. The bill is white, and the logs and 
feet light slate colour. 
These little birds are capable of being completely tamed, but as they 
bite severely, it is necessary when first taking them in hand to wear 
stout gloves; it is no less indispensable to clip the feathers of one of 
their wings, and in the course of a few weeks they become perfectly 
docile, and may be taught a variety of tricks. While the taming pro- 
cess is going on, the birds should be kept singly in a little cage, and 
handled several times a day; as they are very intelligent, they will 
soon discover that no harm is intended them, and, losing all fear, 
they will readily hop from their cage on to the finger that is held 
out to them, and on which they are to be carried round the room, 
and even out of doors. 
We have seen it recommended, when the birds are quite familiar, 
I. I 
