The Marquess of Tavistock—The Pursuit of the Cock Grey Parrot 159


latter I have had for nearly seven years now, and I consider him one

of my most gorgeous birds. The sitting-room is also at their disposal

and I must add that Shamas are so clean that I am sure no one need

fear having them loose in their sitting-rooms. If they fly through an

open window they very soon come back. They never fight—if Jean

gets hold of a nice fat spider, of course Jim too wants it ; he makes

a dive at her, but has never yet hurt her, and she flies off to the top

of the greenhouse and there consumes her delicacy. While I was at

the Palace Show my husband lost Jean, but on going upstairs found

her singing in her sweet way perched on the head of my bed, probably

looking for Jim and me.


I put out both Shamas in the middle of March, into their own

aviary, which measures 12x6x7 to 9 ft. high. The shelter

is quite a miniature affair, standing on legs about 3 ft. long. Jean was

usually inside and Jim underneath where I had fixed a perch. The

nest-box is outside. I watched them closely for a day or two. The

courtship is alarmingly savage and might very well be taken for

a terrific “ dust-up ”. Within a few days eggs were laid, and now

there are four youngsters still in the nest. The parent birds delight

in following us all round the garden, always appreciating company,

and on very wet days frequently fly through the greenhouse into the

sitting-room, where Jim bursts into song. He is here at this moment,

and now comes Jean. I consider the Shama a most delightful bird

to keep and they seem to so enjoy their life of so-called captivity.

My Shamas are not at all keen on housemaids. I think because they

kill spiders under their very beaks ! If you treat a Shama as a pal

he will treat you as one, and what could be nicer.



THE PURSUIT OF THE COCK GREY PARROT


By The Marquess of Tavistock


Since the sexes in a wild state are presumably about equal it is

one of the unsolved mysteries of aviculture why practically all captive

Grey Parrots should be hens.


For years Canon Dutton’s old Polly has occupied a small aviary

in my collection. Sheltered only from direct wind and wet she has



