THE LORIES AND LORIQUETS 



1861 



taken up by the tail. It is a gorgeously-hued bird, the general ground color of 

 the plumage being scarlet, while the breast is adorned with a gorget of gold; the 

 wings are green, with blue at the bend and on the under coverts, and the tail is red, 

 with a band at the tip, which is dark purple red above and golden red below. 

 The feature from which the species takes its popular name is the deep purple 

 cap on the head, which is often of so dark a tint as in some lights to. appear almost 

 black. 



Like other lories, this species is a honeysucker, but as the brush on its tongue 

 is less developed than in some of the other members of the family, it is capable of 



PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



living on other substances than honey, and is thus more easily kept in captivity. 

 Lories are generally found in small parties of half a dozen or so, and Dr. Guillemard 

 states that in the Moluccas they may frequently be seen devouring the soft fruits 

 of various kinds of figs. They generally lay from three to four eggs on the bare 

 wood in some hollow bough, and the young leave their domicile in about six weeks 

 after the commencement of incubation. The species here figured is remarkable for 

 its gentle and affectionate disposition, as well as for its talking powers; for which 

 reasons, together with the gorgeousness of its plumage, it is in much request as a 

 pet. Mr. Gedney writes that " as a ventriloquist the purple-cap possesses no equal, 



