124 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



the black. In winter the bird loses all 

 or most of the black on the upper body 

 and becomes yellowish green except on 

 the tail. In Southern India and Ceylon, 

 these birds retain, more or less, the black on 

 the upper plumage in winter. ''Through- 

 out its great range" say Gates, ''the 

 Common lora is subject to variations 

 in its plumage which appear to be due 

 chiefly, if not entirely, to climatic in- 

 fluences". 



The black plumage is generally supposed 

 to be the mating attire. But, "in the 

 breeding season" observes Munn, "the 

 males have very little black on the upper 

 parts, being chiefly yellowish green on the 

 head and back, and differing but very 

 little from the winter plumage". My 

 observations also happen to corroborate this. 

 Legge says that he has seen the black 

 plumage at all seasons of the year. The 

 safest hypothesis, in his opinion, is that 

 some breed in the green and some 

 in the black stage. "It may be," he adds, 



