The late 0. E. Cresswell—Parrots



07



The four principal genera which I know as inhabitants of Asia are:—


1. The Noble or Ring-necked Parrakeet.


2. The Lories proper.


3. Some of the Cockatoos.


4. Many small Psittacids or Parrotlets often erroneously classed

with the Lovebirds.


Among the Ring-necked I may name—


1. The Great Alexandrine.


2. The Malacca.


3. The Rose Malabar, with some very fine tints of colour in addition

to the prevailing green of the genus.


4. The very common little Bengal Parrakeet, to which I have

already alluded as probably the first of the Psittacidae imported into

Europe.


My "Duleep Singh” is a modest-looking little Parrakeet; still, the

varying shades of green are beautiful when looked into, as also is the

little red ring. They are jealously affectionate, and fearful screamers

in a wild state, but if they do learn to say something say it well and

usually cease to scream. It doubtless was on the death of one of them

that Ovid wrote his lovely elegy beginning: “ Psittacus Eois


imitatrix ales ab Indis.” Of this tribe is the sweet little Blossom-

head—which has local variations—the Indian cyanocephalus and the

Burmese rosa.


The second Asiatic family is that of the Lories proper. They are

a short-tailed race of the most gorgeous hues of brilliant crimson,

green, and purple. They are rarely talkers, but their fascinating and

funny ways and their easy confidence in their owners make them

charming pets. They are seldom, however, seen save in the collections

of Parrot fanciers, and this for good reason, for by nature they feed

on rich ripe fruit and on the honey of tropical flowers. Anything like

a diet of seed causes fits and death. It is possible by slow degrees to

accustom them to fare far other than their natural diet, and in such

a case a Lory, or still better a pair, are a delight to a true bird-lover.

Most beautiful birds are the Purple-capped Lory from the Moluccas ;

the Black-capped or tricoloured Lory ; the Ceram Lory, of the richest

crimson with brilliant green wings ; and the Blue-breasted Lory.



