Neophema—The Birds of the Adelaide Zoological Gardens 337

(d) The Psittacim


Six species of Macaws are exhibited. They are as follows : Two

perfect examples of the Hyacinthine Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacin-

thinus ) ; two fine Blue and Yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna), one only

recently acquired, the other a very old inhabitant ; six or seven of

the commonest species ; the Bed and Blue ( A . macao ) ; a single Bed

and Green (A. chloroptera), the survivor of a pair which made several

unsuccessful attempts at breeding; three Military Macaws (A. militaris);

and a pair of the little Illiger’s (A. maracana) which have laid frequently

but the eggs have invariably been infertile. The Conures are represented

by the Green ( Aratinga leucophthalma), of which a pair have been in

the Gardens for a good many years and last year succeeded in rearing

a single young one, believed to be the first recorded breeding, several

each of the Aztec and Mexican Conures ( Conurus aztec and holochlorus)

recently received, and a single Cactus ( C . cactorum).


Of the Amazons, there are a number of Levaillants (A. levaillanti),

one or two of both the Blue-fronted Yellow-naped (A. aestiva and

auropalliata), and a recently acquired pair identified as the Yellow¬

cheeked Amazon ( A . autumnalis), one of which exhibits marked lutinistic

tendencies. African species exhibited are a pair of Grey Parrots

(Psitiacus erithacus), a single Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus ),

and seven species of Lovebird, viz. the Nyassa ( Agapornis lilianae),

Black-cheeked (A. nigrigenis), Fischer’s (A. fischeri ), Masked

(A. personata ), Peach-faced (A. roseicollis), Madagascar (A. cana),

and Bed-faced (A. pullaria). The first five mentioned all breed

freely. The Asiatic Parrakeets shown are three in number, namely

the Alexandrine ( Psittacula nipalensis ), and Bing-necked (P. torquata)

and Javan (P. alexandri ), all of which breed freely ; that of the

last named is thought to be the first recorded breeding in captivity.

Coming now to the Australian species, the first group comprises the

three beautiful birds belonging to the genus Polytelis. Of the first

of these, Barraband’s Parrakeet (P. barrabandi), about a dozen

examples are shown, but so far they have not reproduced. The

second, the Bock Peplar Parrakeet (P. anthopeplus) is a fairly

common bird in South Australia and several specimens are exhibited.

Of the third, Queen Alexandra’s Parrakeet (P. alexandrse), there



