362 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



The species of Tanygnathus, from the Malay region, are much like the forms just 

 mentioned in their habits, but they differ from them in their larger bill and smaller 

 tail. Edectus shares with the Trichoglossidae the common name lory. Its four 

 species are Malayan ; they are not sociable birds, and are most abundant in the 

 denser forests. The racket-tailed parrots (Prionitunus) come from the same region. 

 Their colors are largely blue, green, and yellow, while the fact that their two middle 

 tail feathers terminate in broad spatules gives rise to the common name. 



FIG. 167. Ayapornls roseicollis, red-faced love-bird. 



Some of the love-birds are embraced in the genus Agapornis. They are very 

 small parrots, with a short rounded tail, and with a plumage of which the prevailing 

 color is green. Their popular name is well applied, for they are most affectionate 

 creatures, not only when in confinement, but in their native wilds, the forests of the 

 Ethiopian region. Usually they are kept in pairs, and the closeness with which they 

 snuggle up to each other bears testimony to their mutual regard. Our figure shows 

 the red-faced love-bird (A. roseicollis) from southwestern Africa. 



