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Gerald Martindale — Bourke’s Parrakeets



than that over-musical Canary-bird which has had the benefit of

man’s instruction for countless generations.


How generally known is it that Humming-Birds are found in Canada

during the warmer months ? Not one species, nor even two, but no

less than four. Even the tiny Stellula calliope breeds in the Rockies of

British Columbia round about latitude 60° N., a fact only recently

made known. Yet most of us expressed incredulity on being told that

merely one species travels up the west coast and another up the east in

summer, as far as Alaska and Nova Scotia respectively. Who knows

whether more do not breed in the mountains of the North-west Pacific

Coast ? And at the other end of the continent what of those seen by

Captain King flying in a snowstorm round the fuscias of Tierra del

Fuego ? Despite all this, they will always be considered by most of

us as a tropical family.


Now many years have passed since Hudson’s death, and there

remains much to be learnt of the mysteries of the Trochilidse ; nay,

I have no doubt they will keep us in speculative excitement for many

and many years to come.


Although the little creatures may be suspected of being hardier

than many of us would credit, it is earnestly to be hoped that they

will not be kept in captivity by those who are unwilling or unable

to spend a great deal of time with them. If they can stand some cold,

there still remain a hundred and one causes for sudden decline. And,

above all, the keeper of Humming-Birds should be one who has

cultivated a real understanding of the conditions governing the wild

state of the family as a whole.



BOURKE’S PARRAKEETS


By Gerald Martindale


The article in the May issue of the Avicultural Magazine on

Bourke’s Parrakeets by Mr. Boosey was of particular interest to me,

as in many respects his experience in breeding these birds is different

from my own, and therefore it may interest some of our members to

hear my experience.



