THE LORIES AND LORIKEETS. 1G3 



CHAP. LXL— THE LOEIES AND LORIKEETS. 



Trichogloasinas. 



Distinguisliing Marks — Habitat — Life in Freedom — Importation 

 — Management — Talking Capacitu, 



The Lories and Lorikeets constitute a sub-division among tlie 

 parrots whicli differs greatly in character and peculiarities, as 

 well as in the nature of its food, from all others of this family. 

 In the first place, they strike us as the most splendid in colour 

 and brilliancy, and as being specially pleasing in shape ; next, 

 they unite a curiously clever and pert manner with odd, hasty, 

 violent movements ; and, further, they show general irritability 

 and have a shrill harsh cry. 



The following distinguishing marks may be mentioned as 

 -common to the two genera which here come under our 

 notice — the Broad-tailed, or True Lories {Domicella^ Wgl.), and 

 the Sharp-tailed Lories, or Lorikeets {Trichoglossus, Vgrs.) : 

 Beak compressed at the sides ; socket edge rising up in a 

 •slanting direction ; the inner point of the beak without the file- 

 like ridge which is found in almost all other parrots ; but the 

 special distinction is the brush-like tongue, or rather the tongue 

 furnished with papillae. 



It is found in Australia and the surrounding islands, the 

 Indian Archipelago (not, however, including the Sunda Islands), 

 and Polynesia. 



In accordance with the peculiar form of its tongue, it subsists 

 on sweet juicy fruits and other soft parts of plants, the honey of 

 £owers, and, without doubt, on animal food, insects, shell-less 

 animals, &c. Stone fruits and all sorts of nuts must be difficult, 

 if not impossible, for them to eat, on account of the form of the 

 beak, but especially in the absence of the file-like edge ; many 

 ■species, however, eat mealy or oily seeds, at least w^hen in 

 captivity. As yet but little inquiry has been made into their 

 habits. Of course, it is clearly shown by their food that they 

 are tree birds. They live, as far as we know, gregariously, 

 sometimes in flocks consisting of several varieties. They present 

 a splendid sight in their variegated plumage while scrambling 

 iibout in a blossoming gum-tree. Their flight is rapid and 

 skilful ; on the branches they run and hop more than they 

 climb ; on the ground they move oddly, sideways, hopping, 

 nodding, and making other comical gestures. Many species are 



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