The l'.rr,-ii;n<i >>/ a l/t/hri<l Lorikeet. 277 



it wa ■ 101111(1 to contain two cf^^^-!. I ^V(llll(l like, just ht'rc, 

 to expreij:; my apprccia' inn oi that Belgian boy— always at- 

 tentive, observant and wil'lni;. characteristics not always found 

 in village lioys. Two years witli nie and he had learnt to 

 speak English very well, and iiad I still been closely as- 

 s;ociating niyseli with bird lite upon my return, I should most 

 eertainl}' have accei)ted his expressed desire to bring him to 

 Kn.yland. 



This latest find was on March 2(ith, 1012, and my 

 entry reads, "with iavourable weather ahead we should be 

 : ii.ceess.ul in liree ling this unique cross this time." I find 

 no iurther entry or notes on this particular event until May 

 :)\\\, and, i will (pioie the actual entry as it will more clearly 

 express my vi(,'ws and results of inspection at the time when 

 I had the birds luider my daily care. It reads: "I looked 

 " into tlie nest log and tind the young bird thriving wonder- 

 "fully. It is now over two weeks old, and T am somewdiat 

 "surprised to And it, though quite a large bird, still covered 

 "with greyish down, pen leathers only just showing in wings: 

 "on the breast thei'e is just visible the glorious red of the 

 " adult plumage, only just visible but it stands out beauti- 

 " fully distinct against the grey down." 



May 8th: "I find the wing feathers slightly developed 

 "and the crown ([uite full of pen feathers." 



May 10th: "Took young hylirid from log for exam- 

 " ination and lind it a l)onnie l)ird — size of liody seems al- 

 " most full grown. Its feathers are now beginning to grow 

 " beautiiuUy. The crown is a picture, being completely cov- 

 " ered with beautiful iiidisoent blue, the breast shining red- 

 "dish-ci'ange, and wings beautiful emerald-green." 



.May 18tli: "(i rowing won Ie;fully; tail feathers showing 

 "well, crown, lu'east and wings fully and beautifully plumaged. 

 "The breast feathers are pa'.e orange, tipped with deep 

 " oiange. It is lively and strong, as evidenced liy the Fact that 

 "it quickly nipped my finger when I attempted to remove it 

 "from the log." 



The bird has now reached an age that too often hand- 

 ling would huiry it pr.nnturely fiom the log, and so my next 

 entry is when it has wandered out into the world for itself. 



June 13th, 1912: "The bird leaves the nest log for 



