PSITTACID.^. 813 



Several small species of Parrots wliicli inhabit tlie 

 Eastern Islands and Polynesia are commonly called 

 Lories. The characters upon which they are sepa- 

 rjited from the rest of the family^ consist principally 

 in the comparative weakness of the bill, and the 

 peculiar structure of the tongue, which, instead of 

 terminating in a soft fleshy cushion as in the true 

 Parrots, is furnished with elongated papillae, the 

 latter sometimes even forming a sort of brush at the 

 extremity of the organ. These birds live partly 

 upon pulpy fruits, and i^artly upon the sweet juices 

 of flowers : in collecting the latter, the papillae of the 

 tongue come into use. They are all remarkable for 

 their brilliant colours, and for the softness of their 

 plumage. They are lively, active birds, and do not 

 lose their gaiety even in captivity. They are held 

 in great estimation in many parts of the East. 



The type of this sub -family is — 



The Blue-striped Lory {Eos cyanostriata). 



