Dr. Evelyn Spraivson—The Breeding of Barnard's Parrakeet 271


but the third (and last) is still with us and a very pretty chick and,

as I write, two months old. This tale of the Tragopans is horribly

reminiscent of the ten little nigger boys ; it is our first experience with

them, though we have previously reared many Golden and Common

Pheasants. The young one was reared on hard-boiled egg and biscuit

(pressed simultaneously through the perforated zinc bottom of a gravy

strainer to break it up’ into small particles), plus chopped lettuce and

onion, and a few clean gentles only ; they seem to be vegetarians

mainly when young.


In the April issue of our Magazine Capt. Scott-Hopkins refers to

the male Tragopan as a Pheasant which he has never known molest

his wife ; perhaps ours is the exception that proves the rule, as he has

on two occasions severely mauled his wife ; indeed, we thought he had

finished her the second time. It was, we think, our fault in that we

coddled them too much and shut them in the shelter each night, where

the hen had no hiding-place. Since they have had continuous access to

both run and shelter and cover has been supplied there has been no

repetition of these attacks. Incidentally they never seem to use the

shelter. The hen nested and laid on the ground.


Other less noteworthy species have also bred and Gouldians are

only now starting. Like Mr. Teague, we have specialized in these

(since 1913) ; it was not only the first foreign bird we ever possessed

but also the first we ever bred; we have often bred them, but only in

small numbers. If only they could be got to go to nest earlier in the

year they would be one of the easiest of birds to rear. At Highgate

they almost always went to nest about 7th August, but here, possibly

because of the elevation and exposure, so far they have been three or

four weeks later. We once had one male put two hens to nest in the

same aviary: all the eggs hatched but it was late in the year and we

only reared a few ; we did not know then what we know now that if

you catch up the parents and place them and the nest in a flight cage

(“ double-breeder ”) they will carry on the good work of rearing their

young indoors in the dry with complete success. We have bred from our

English-bred males quite often, but it may be coincidence that, though

on five or six occasions we have had our own English-bred hens go to

nest and lay large clutches, they have never yet been fertile. We have



