Correspondence



227



Senegambia. It is a particularly graceful, slenderly-built bird, rather high

on the legs and very slim in the body, but its most noticeable feature—

and this is very pronounced—are the feathers of the crown of the head,

which form a kind of crest, but instead of standing upright in the manner

of a Lapwing’s crest, they stretch out beyond the back of the head in

a horizontal manner.



Somewhat in this fashion.


I can only compare them, in a miniature way, to the crest or feathers on

the top of the head of the Houbara Bustard, or of the Hammerhead Stork.

This gives these Plovers an air of great distinction from other closely allied

species and, indeed, they are most showy and charming birds. The colour

is roughly as follows : Above, sandy-brown ; the wing-coverts tipped with

white ; quills black ; rump and tail white ; the latter with a broad terminal

band of black. Crown of head black, extending down the neck : frontal line

white ; lores black ; sides of neck black, with broad band of white ; throat

black; breast and under parts white ; bill and legs coral pink.


It is certainly one of the most showy of the Charadriidce. AH Plovers

make delightful aviary birds : they quickly become tame, are fairly hardy

when acclimatized, though always delighting in plenty of sun, and are ready

to go to nest in suitable aviaries, all of which make them most desirable

assets from an avicultural point of view.


G. H. Gurney.



QUEEN ALEXANDRA PARRAKEETS AND THEIR STRANGE

BEHAVIOUR IN CAPTIVITY IN AUSTRALIA


In 1925, ten young Queen Alexandras were taken from nests and hand-

reared from somewhere near Oodnadatta in South Australia. It was my good

fortune to secure these birds. Two pairs remained in my aviaries, and the

remaining three pairs were distributed between three friends.


A very anxious fortnight was spent negotiating for the purchase of these

rarities. Word was received that the Alexandras were about. A few weeks

later, the wife of the man who had caught these birds came to town. No time

was lost in finding out where she was staying, and, paying a visit, I was

asked to make an offer, and did so. The next day, the lady went to a friend

of mine to see if he was interested. My friend decided to let me negotiate

on condition that he had one pair. This was agreed, and the following day

I again saw our lady friend and increased my offer. This was accepted, and

a wire was sent asking for the birds to be sent down by rail. In due course



