16



E. J. Boosey and Alec Brooksbank —



as usual two broods, and it seems extraordinary that two species of

Parrakeets, so very nearly related to each other, should differ thus

in their yearly number of nests. Again, their close relation, the

Turquoisine, differs from both in being prepared to go on nesting

almost to the extent of a Budgerigar.


Our Turquoisines were rather a disappointment as to the number

of young actually reared. The hen of one of the most promising pairs

laying numerous eggs but always deserting them a few days before

they were due to hatch. Some of her eggs were, however, successfully

transferred to a last year’s cock Blue-wing X Turquoisine hybrid,

mated to a true Turquoisine hen whose eggs had proved infertile.


These hybrids are rather beautiful, having a vivid blue band across

the forehead, and a large and lovely patch of Turquoisine blue on the

wing. They have, too, the vestige of a red shoulder patch represented

by a few small red feathers which only show, however, when the wings

are expanded. They are a size larger than Turquoisines, and of all

our Grass Parrakeets, they are by far the most friendly and intelligent,

taking the greatest interest in all one does and becoming tame of their

own accord. Their two different voices clearly indicate their mixed

ancestry, though when lively or excited they indulge exclusively in

the bat-like squeakings of a Turquoisine.


Both Swainson’s and Red-collared Lorikeets breed steadily the

whole year round. We had a nest of the former fledged on Christmas

Day last year and it looks as though they will do the same again this

year. Some youngsters have just fledged (31st October), the eggs were

laid about July and the young stay in the nest an extraordinarily long

time compared with Parrakeet babies. They are fed exclusively on

our Lorikeet food and an apple a day, canary seed is available in their

aviaries but they never eat any, and no extras are given when they

have young in the nest. We mention this as we believe some people

who try to breed them give all kinds of messy tit-bits which are quite

unnecessary and in all probability bad for the parents.


Two years ago, owing to pressure of aviary accommodation, we

disposed of all our Lovebirds. Last year, therefore, we only had

Peach-faces breeding. These did extremely well. In one of the back

numbers of the Avicultural Magazine a query was asked how



