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loud, deep resonant, bubbling note, lasting for several seconds, and repeated

at short intervals of about three minutes for quite a considerable time. It is

distinctly musical, and might be likened to a loud bass tremolo on a violoncello,

but with a clear treble inflexion as well. In a wild state it would probably

be audible at a considerable distance. The bird appeared to find it an effort

to make it.


G. H. Gurney.



SUCCESSFUL REARING OF A YOUNG DERBYAN PARRAKEET


Psittacula derbyana, of the wooded valleys of the Upper Yangtse in

Western China, is caught by the Chinese on walnut trees in nooses, being

particularly fond of walnuts. The coloured picture which appeared in the

Magazine of 1926 (p. 145) gives a good idea of the bird and its colour. It is

most destructive in an aviary. Time after time my aviaries have had to be

repaired when a good deal of the wire netting had been destroyed by their

strong beaks. In 1929 Mr. Hampe, one of our members, sent me a few of

these beautiful birds from Shanghai. Although I have had them for over

four years, they never attempted to nest till this year. They were

given the choice of three nests, two of which were in the flight of the aviary

and the third inside the aviary shelter. The inside one was chosen, and the

first egg laid on 23rd April. Only two eggs were laid. All the peat moss

and sawdust that I had put into the nest-box was thrown out. One young

one was hatched on the 24th May, the other egg being unfertile. The parents

were devoted to their young, and the old birds flew at one viciously each

time one tried to enter the aviary. When the young one was about three

weeks old the parents got quite tame, and did not mind how often one entered

the aviary and looked at their offspring. The young bird left the nest on

14th July—a fine healthy, and strong bird. It resembles the male bird, but

is rather dull in colour. The beak is red at present. I believe this is the first

time this Parrakeet has been reared in captivity in Europe.


Alfred Ezra.



