200 A. P. Shearing—A Few Breeding Notes from Foxwarren


to have been brutally murdered the next day, apparently the work

of the parent birds as nothing can get into the aviary. This is rather

unusual for these birds as in other years they have both proved them¬

selves to be beyond reproach with regard to rearing young.


These birds have just hatched out three more young. I wonder

if the same fate is in store for these.


Another pair, both lutinos, went to nest and three eggs were laid

by the 27th January, all being infertile. They again went to nest and

three more eggs were laid by the 24th March. One young was

hatched out but was found buried under some peat moss ; the other

two eggs were infertile.


Barraband Parrakeet ( Polytelis swainsoni). —Laid five eggs by

3rd April and five young were hatched out by the 24th April. Two

of these died, but the other three are looking splendid.


Elegant Parrakeet ( Neonanodes elegans ).— Two pairs of these

are at present incubating eggs.


Malabar Parrakeets (Psittacula peristerodes) .—A pair of these

are at present incubating three eggs.


Derbyan Parrakeet ( Psittacula derhyana ).—After four years

these birds have decided to do something more than destroying aviaries,

so after gnawing the roof off one nest-box and examining the other

nest-box in the flight they decided to rent the nest-box in the sleeping

quarters and on 23rd April the first egg was laid. Two days later I

went to see if any more eggs were laid, but got no farther than the

door of the sleeping quarters as the hen bird gave one shriek and flew

at me in such-a manner as to indicate that the safest place was out¬

side the aviary. Some days later, however, I did manage to get a

peep into the nest, and discovered two eggs ; since then I have given

her a wide berth.


White-crested Jay ( Garrulax diardi ).—-These birds made a nice

nest this year and one egg was laid by the 12th April; this was hatched

out on 26th April and found dead the next day. These birds make a

habit of throwing their young out of the nest.


Bronze-winged Pigeon ( Phajps chalco'ptera). —The old pair of

these have started well this year as they already have one young which

is now 14 days old. Another pair are incubating two eggs.



