170 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



and bear the first part of tlie journey well, but not the latter 

 part. Of late the wholesale dealers have had them sent over 

 direct. 



Buifon speaks of it as a cage bird, and praises it as being 

 affectionate and eminently talented. He says it learns to speak 

 more easily and more clearly than any others of the lories, but 

 that it is delicate and hard to keep. Bechstein speaks in similar 

 terms. According to him, it is even said to be "the most 

 teachable, tamest, most pleasing, and affectionate of all parrots. 

 It talks constantly, but thickly, like a ventriloquist, imitates, 

 with a clear pipe, whatever is whistled to it, and always wants 

 to be noticed and petted, as well as tended and cared for. All 

 its movements are hasty." 



In these words we have a true description of the bristled- 

 tongued Parrots, and the facts established by the experiences of 

 many enthusiastic amateurs confirm the statements of the older 

 writers, with this exception, however, that by no means all 

 lories belong to the most talented and best speakers. Like the 

 rest, the Black-bonnet Lory is able to learn to repeat a few 

 words or even sentences, which it brings out quickly and 

 hurriedly, with a clear high voice. Although one of the best- 

 known objects of the bird-shop, yet it is by no means common, 

 but is only imported singly now and then. Being a peculiarly 

 ornamental bird, it is often found in the possession of persons of 

 position, and is usually a great favourite. Many of them, 

 however, render themselves intolerable by their incurable 

 screaming, though their cry is not so shrill as that of their 

 congeners, but sounds more like piping. In several cases it has 

 lived for many years in a cage. Thus the Black-bonnet Lory 

 belonging to the Princess Charles of Prussia, which, after her 

 death, was in the possession of the Prince, must have lived 

 about twenty years in the cage. 



As regards diet, I must refer to my Introduction, and will 

 only add that this is one of the lories which are most diflScult 

 to accustom to seed. 



