g8 



An ATJStilALiAN BIRb BOOK. 



ORDER XVII.— PSITTACIFORMES. 



F. 72. Nestoridae, Nestor, Kaka, Kea, 4 sp. A. (N.Z.). 



P. 73. LORIIDAE (9), BRUSH-TONGUED PARROTS, 



LORIES, LORIKEETS, 87 sp. A. 

 3 184*Blue Moimtain Lorikeet (-Parrot), Rainbow Lory, 

 16 Blue -bellied (Swainson) Lorikeet, Trichoglossus 



novae-hollandiae, N.A., E.A., S.A., T. 



Nom. flocks c. eucalypts 



Head, throat, abdomen blue; chest blood-red tinged yel- 

 low; back green; bill blood-red; f., sim. Honey. 

 Screech. 



14 



contains many birds that are unknown elsewhere. In addition, 

 there are some groups which are found in other continents, but 

 which reach their highest development here. Conspicuous 

 amongst these are Parrots and Cockatoos. Australians are so 

 accustomed to see these beautiful birds on every country road, 

 and in cages outside their houses, that they do not appreciate 

 their beauty or their interest, for "familiarity breeds contempt," 

 even with bird life. 



When one reflects that no figure of a Parrot is found in ancient 

 Egyptian art, and that no Parrot is mentioned in the Bible, then 

 one begins to understand the interest of Europeans in these 

 "spoilt children" of the animal world, the "monkeys of the bird 

 world," and "the cream of the Australian avifauna." 



Their tameness, their affection, their entertaining habits, and 



