238 Alfred Ezra—Rearing of Blue Alexandrine Parrakeet


selecting of these birds for foster-parents. The breeder of foreign

Finches should purchase about five or six pairs of Bengalese Finches,

and allow them to mate. Before using them as foster-parents it is

essential to mate the birds, each pair in a separate box-cage. When

a hen starts laying you will find that she always stays in the nest,

and the cock feeds her. In this case you are quite safe in placing

any foreign Finches’ eggs in the nest in place of the Bengalese eggs.

If you find that the hen is often out of the nest during this period,

this means that the cock bird is neglecting to feed her, then it is

not advisable to use these birds for fostering purposes.


You will often find that a good cock Bengalese is feeding the hen

on the eggs in the day-time, and will take her place during the

night, and that a dark brown or black-and-wdiite coloured bird

is much more useful than a bird of a lighter colour, for this purpose.

The cage should be kept as dark as possible during the time of

breeding, except where the birds feed, which should be light. They

should also be disturbed as little as possible.


In conclusion, I would like to mention to our members who take

an interest in the breeding of foreign Finches, that they will find

the Bengalese Finches are of most valuable assistance to them as

foster-parents.



SUCCESSFUL REARING OF A BLUE

ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET

(Psittacula nipalensis )


By Alfred Ezra, O.B.E.


When I was in India in 1923 I saw a lovely blue specimen of

a cock Alexandrine Parrakeet at my brother’s place. He also had

a very fine hen lutino Alexandrine. These were both kept in cages,

and had no chance of nesting. After a little persuasion, my brother

very kindly gave me these two beautiful birds, and they arrived

here safely and in perfect condition. A very fine coloured portrait

of this unique blue Alexandrine was done by Mr. Gronvold, and



