260 The Marquess of Tavistock—1934 : Things that did come off


respects she differs as a hen Rosella of the common race would do,

having the characteristic greenish feathers behind the eye which are

the best guide to sex in mature birds. The pair were excessively wild,

always dashing into the shelter when anyone walked along the front of

the aviary. As often happens, however, their timidity did not prevent

them from proving good breeders. The hen, after some delay, took

possession of a hollow perpendicular tree-trunk and in due course

reared six lovely youngsters, I think two cocks and four hens. They

are decidedly yellower in first plumage than young common

Rosellas of the same age.


Plumheads also nested in a natural tree-trunk and had four eggs,

rearing one young bird. An undoubted young cock I bred three years

ago is again moulting out with a grey head, showing that the plum

colour may not appear with the second complete moult. Strange to

say a Slaty-head X Plumhead hybrid I sent to Mr. Whitley is

showing signs of adult plumage with his first complete moult, like a

Malabar.


Rock Peplars again nested in the rather unsuitable coco-nut husk

box that is the only domicile the hen will consent to patronize. They

hatched three young and reared two, or rather two were reared, for

they proved lazy feeders and so neglected their younger child that we

had to bring her in for some days and feed her on chewed seed, pea-nuts,

and brown bread until she learned to eat seed for herself.


Barrabands did not have a good season. The eggs hatched well

but the bitter nights in late spring accounted for many nestlings and

two pairs reared only one daughter each and the third pair two sons.

Next year I shall not allow them to start before 15th May. Roseate

Cockatoos, a white cock and a pale grey hen, after wasting several

seasons, reared two young in 1932 and two in 1933. This year they

seemed disposed to return to their former evil habits, for the hen laid

an egg from the perch and broke it when it was placed in the nest.

Later the pair appeared to be sitting in earnest but after a while they

gave up and the eggs, if any, proved to have vanished. I then

abandoned all hope but, contrary to expectations, the hen made a

third attempt and the young are now nearly ready to fly.


Unhappily the breeding of white Roseates promises to be as long



