358 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



Throe genera, Psittacelln, Ciidojmtlncus, and Xusiternit, represented by eighteen 

 species are rui-ognized, but so little are they knuwn that only the last nientioued has 

 received a common name, — pigmy parrot.s. In size they are the smallest of the 

 order, and in their coloration green j)redoininates, relieved by blue, scarlet, yellow, 

 and other colors. In XasUerna the tail is rounded and the shafts of the feathers 

 extend beyond the barbs. 



The lories form the family Trichoglos.sid.k, and have about the same distribution 

 as the Micropsittacidaj an<l I'latycercida;. The characters of tlieii- bill and tongue at 



once separate them from all 



A 



>N 



others. The former is .'is 

 long as or longer than high, 

 smooth and usually without 

 distinct teeth, while the tip 

 of the tongue is licset witli 

 bundles of bristly papilla; 

 (except in the genus Corijl- 

 lis). The cere is broadest on 

 the top of the bill, and runs 

 down on either side to a 

 point. The tail varies in 

 shape with the genus, but 

 is usually shorter than the 

 pointed wings. The lories 

 are <juick flyers, and jump 

 about among the branches, 

 l)iit do not climb, as do many 

 of the forms yet to be des- 

 cribed. Soft fruits form the 

 l)ulk of their food, but, as 

 the structure of their tongue 

 would indicate, they are very 

 fond of the nectar of flow- 

 ers. They form large flocks, 

 sometimes thousands being 

 found together, when the noise of their loud voices is almost deafening. In all, 

 eightj'-eight S])ecies are recognized. 



The typical genus, Trichoglossus, embraces half the family. In size they are 

 between a sparrow and a dove; in their coloration green ))redoniiiiates, and next in 

 order comes red, esjiecially on the breast. The long tails taper to a rounded ])oint, 

 and hence the species are known as the wedge-tailed lories. The species which we 

 figure comes from South Australia, and is known as Swainson's lory. Its back, wings, 

 anil tail are green, its head and belly blue, breast red, sides yellow, and the other parts 

 variously mottled with all of these colore. Its favorite habitat is in the gum-trees 

 (Eucalyptus) which form so prominent a feature in the veget.ition of the country. 

 From the large flowers of these trees it extracts honey, varying its diet with insects. 

 It lays two eggs in the hollows of the highest gum-trees. 



Closely allied are the bro.-id-tailed lories belonging to the genus Domicella. Their 

 tails are shorter than the wings, and, as the common name indicitcs, are broad, the 



Fig. 163. — -Vtwifmia jtygmaa, pigmy parrot. 



