i6S 



are greatly astonished when told that a high temperature is quite 

 unnecessary and possibly harmful. The only Lories I have 

 noticed feeling the cold at all have been the Varied Lorikeet and 

 the Black Lories, and even these are quite comfortable at 45^ to 

 50 ;'I do not like the temperature of the aviaries to fall below 

 40° or to rise above 55 in the winter time. 



About the hardiest birds I have got are four Yellow- 

 Streaked Lories (C scyutillalus), and these, though coming from 

 the hot mangrove swamps of New Guinea seem to care nothing 

 for our winter cold, and were often seen sleeping in the outside 

 part of their aviary on some of the most disagreeable days of 

 last winter, but of course they were driven inside at night. 



The most amusing Lories I have are the Blacks (C. atcr'). 

 They are more like puppies than birds in their play, the}'' roll 

 about on the ground doing a regular rough and tumble, and 

 when tired will as likely as not lie down on the ground to rest. 

 They are absolutely tame and will play with anyone they know 

 for long enough, but if you attempt to tease one of them the 

 other two go for you straight. 



A very brilliant spot in the aviaries is a compartment 

 occupied by a pair of Yellow-backed Lories. Their next door 

 neighbours are a pair of Green -billed Toucans, and the contrast 

 between the scarlet of the Lories and the black of the Toucans 

 is very striking. 



In touching on the feeding of Lorikeets I ought to 

 mention that I am not opposed to giving dry canary seed if they 

 get milk sop as well. 



[While it is quite clear that the temperature of London is more 

 favourable than Kcclefechan for the keeping of Foreign Birds out of doors, 

 yet I think it will be of general interest to state that in my outdoor aviary, 

 a pair of Varied Lorikeets {Plilosclera versicolor) have now been housed for 

 four years, and that their condition, i.e. their general health, sleekness and 

 tightness of plumage, could not possibly be surpassed. A pair of the un- 

 common Red-collared Lorikeet {Trichoglossus rubritorques) have occupied 

 the same enclosure since July and I purpose leaving these out also. Mr. 

 Brook's interesting and practical article on the treatment given to his fine 

 and rare collection of Loriida, will I am sure be appreciated by all who 

 keep these lovely birds. Acidity of the stomach has never affected the 

 ■ occupants of my cage and aviaries, but I have always at intervals given a 

 little Mellin's food or Scotts' Kmulsiou in the milk sop, and for an ailing 



