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time in captivit}', and I contemplate acquiring another of the 

 same species. 



I also want to know if there is any distinctive mark dis- 

 tinguishing the sexes, and what it may be. Is one sex better 

 at talking and imitating than the other, and which } 



Perhaps some kind correspondent will answer these ques- 

 tions, and give Tue any information about these interesting and 

 beautiful birds. I shall feel much obliged, and it may be of 

 general interest to your readers. 



There were few things that my Lory would not eat, and in 

 large quantities, particularly potatoes and apples. He loved 

 tea, and would drink a lot of it. It may be that they require 

 to be dieted. 



I think the}' are the most interesting of the Parrot kind, 

 as they are never dull or sleepy. I never saw my " Rajah " — 

 this was his name— asleep : we often wished he would sleep, he 

 was so noisy. He had the power of producing from his throat 

 a greater range of tone and note than any bird I ever heard. 

 Nothing pleased him so much as putting him on his back and 

 tickling him under his wings : he then caressed my hand by 

 running his beak over it in a sort of nibbling manner, evidently 

 the Lory's method of kissing. He never bit me, but was not 

 safe with strangers. He was not destructive to woodwork like 

 most Parrots, as his beak was not formed for opening nuts, 

 which he never attempted to do; indeed, he never ate nuts. 

 Purple -capped Lories are chiefly frugivorous. They do not 

 seem to be commonly brought to this country, and in their 

 wild state are confined to the Moluccas. 



I wish someone who has seen them in those Islands would 

 tell Its about them, and about the Islands of Moluccas, which 

 are little known in this part of the world. Lories come from 

 thence. W. F. SmiXhwick, (Captain). 



