Swainson'e XoriF^eet. 



(Trichoglossiis novcs-hoUandice.) 

 By Miss Rosa Litti,e. 



Any lover of foreign birds who has kept Blue 

 Mountain Lories, or to be more accurate — Swainson's 

 Lorikeets, must have derived much amusement from 

 watching their quaint ways. Personally I have found 

 them more interesting than any other birds I know, 

 and have spent hours watching them at their games. 



A pair I had for nearly two years (the hen, alas, 

 died a month or two ago) were the most devoted lovers, 

 but the cock bird was master, and would allow no 

 liberties from his wife. She was never allowed to 

 bathe until he had completed his morning dip ; if she 

 ventured near while he was in the water he would fly 

 up and peck her, screaming all the time, and drive her 

 right to the other end of the aviary. And what a bath 

 he would have! He just revelled in it. I have seen 

 him lie flat on his back in the water, kicking his legs 

 in the air, and then roll over and over again. Even 

 after he had nearly dried himself, the temptation of 

 just another plunge would be too much for him, and 

 in he would go once more. When he had quite 

 finished Mrs. Lorrie was allowed her turn, but she 

 never was so vigorous over her bath ; perhaps she did 

 not fancy the rather dirty water left for her use. 

 Another quaint habit of theirs was to lie side by side 

 in a box which I had put for their use as a nest. They 

 never roosted at night, but always retired to their box 

 at the bottom of the cage. The hen, poor thing, died 

 of some growth, which had been increasing for months, 

 but which did not seem to give her any pain. The 

 end came quite suddenly. One afternoon I found her 



