Lord Tavistock—Breeding Results for 1937 341


in two broods, two of the first brood, however, falling victims of

septicaemia.


One pair of Mealy Kosellas hatched two young, but just before

they left the nest the cock attacked the hen and inflicted a deep bite

on her wing, which turned septic and took weeks to heal. In spite

of an injury which would have incapacitated any ordinary bird the

hen stuck nobly to her task and reared her family. Her ill-couditioned

husband for a time I fully determined should end his days in a

Parrakeet’s Hell, i.e. a Zoo where Broadtails are permanently confined

in cages, fed on nothing but hemp, oats, and sunflower, and allowed

no fruit, green food, nor baths. However, knowing of an aviculturalist

who was very anxious to obtain a cock Mealy at a low figure, I offered

him the criminal, together with a description of his ill-deeds. It is

superfluous to add that the wretch at once reared a family with his

new mate, I was going to say, “ like an angel,” or “ like a lamb ”, but

as neither of these beings is, I suppose, conspicuous for paternal and

conjugal devotion, perhaps I should say “ like a Bengalese ” !


The hen Mealy of the other pair got badly egg-bound with her fifth

egg, and had to be kept in hospital nearly a week. In spite of the fact

that she appeared to have been sitting for some days w T hen J took her

in, and was slow in settling down when returned to the aviary, all the

eggs hatched and five good youngsters were reared. Last year the cock

of this pair murdered one of his offspring without warning. I felt

sure he would repeat the offence, but in keeping with the general

contrariety of birds, he just didn’t !


The breeding pair of Kings reared three good youngsters, but

although the hens of two other pairs both came into breeding condition,

the cocks with them, which were barely adult, took little interest in

them and no eggs were laid.


The breeding pair of Crimson-wings, which failed to rear their young

last year, brought up two exceptionally fine young ones. The hen eats

bread and milk freely, and, I think, wdth benefit to her offspring.


A second pair consisted of a new imported cock and a very miserable-

looking hen who was said to have been caged before she came to me.

She certainly looked like it as her plumage was so worn that she could

not fly properly. I never thought she would breed, but she went into



