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


passed unscathed through the severest winters, for, properly fed, the

Grey Parrot is the hardiest foreign bird you can put into an aviary.

I have only lost one in the open and that was by an accident, and

have never had one ill. If the ability of Grey Parrots to stand our

climate out-of-doors were more widely recognized probably more

people would keep them in that way and the birds would be healthier

and happier. Unlike Amazons, they do not forget their talking

accomplishments when living in the open, but continue to pick up

any conversation or sounds they may hear. A Grey Parrot is content

in quite a small aviary as it does not seem to be particularly keen

on flying, but the wire netting must be of a really stout gauge and all

exposed woodwork protected with zinc, as they bite wood almost as

persistently as Cockatoos. Perches, of course, can be renewed as they

are chewed up.


For some years I made no particular effort to find Polly a mate,

realizing that the task was well-nigh hopeless, but her laying and

patient incubation of two clutches of eggs in one season encouraged

me to make the attempt. The first cock was supposed to have been

sexed by an expert. “ He ” certainly had a larger and heavier beak

than Polly, who is a particularly feminine-looking Grey with

a small beak and a very elliptical eye. Having had some experience

of stormy introductions between Amazons, even when of opposite

sexes, I was very uncertain how Polly would greet a member of

her race after her long period of solitude. However, after a little

preliminary squabbling they settled down to tolerate one another,

though they never displayed any affection. In due course the new

Parrot came into breeding condition and proved an unmistakable

female.


Some time afterwards Miss Knobel discovered a bird she believed

by the pelvic bone test to be a certain cock. Although I got “ him ”

rather late in the year for turning out, I decided to risk “ him ” in

the aviary. Polly’s reception of “ him ” was much like that of “ his ”

predecessor, although “ he ” was anxious to make friends. The new

arrival prospered and was soon in perfect plumage, but one winter

night met with a mysterious accident, being found dead next morning

with- an injured claw and a pool of blood nearby. On post-mortem



