HANGING PARRAKEETS. 



219 



" While in a state of captivity they are fed on sugar- 

 cane, of -which they are very fond, but they do not live 

 for any length of time should the supply of cane come 

 to an end. It feeds so gluttonously on the beautiful 

 fruit of the Jambu tree, that I have seen bird after bird 

 shot out of one tree without their companions taking 

 the slightest notice of the gun or the death of so many 

 of their little flock. When held up by the legs, after 

 being shot, the juice of this fruit pours from their 

 mouths and nostrils. The flowers of the cocoanut tree 

 come in for a large share of its patronage, so do also 

 those of other trees, on the ' cups ' or calyces of which 

 it subsists, biting them off in a pendent attitude. 

 Layard writes that ' at Gillimally they were in such 

 abundance that the flowering trees were literally alive 

 with them. They clung to the bright scarlet flowers 

 head downwards, or scrambled from branch to branch, 

 while the forest echoed with their bickerings. They 

 bit. off the leaves (which fell like scarlet snow upon 

 the ground) to get at the calyx, and when this dainty 

 morsel was devoured they flew off to the banana trees, 

 down the broad leaves of which they slid, and fastened 

 upon the ripening clusters of fruit or the pendent 

 heart-shaped flower.' " 



Mr. F. Lewis (The Ibis, 1898, p. 346) says : " I am 

 inclined to consider that this species should be regarded 

 as more abundant in the intermediate districts between 

 the wet and dry zones, as it is certainly to be found 

 in greater numbers in that limit than in the extremes. 

 It often ascends up to the highest hills, but is then 

 only an occasional visitor. It breeds in high trees, but 

 I have never succeeded in procuring the eggs. 



"In Colombo it may be frequently found for sale, 

 and is known as the 'Love-bird.' ' 



This is the most frequently imported of the Hanging 

 Parrakeets, but nevertheless is rare in the market, and 

 consequently expensive. Our Zoological Gardens have 

 at various times exhibited specimens, the first pair 

 being purchased in 1872. 



Dr. Russ states that a pair of this pretty species in 

 the possession of Mr. Blaauw was kept in good health 

 and plumage in a room only slightly warmed in the day- 

 time. They ate nothing but canaryseed and rather 

 stale, moistened, but well-pressed-out white bread. 



BLUE-CROWNED HANGING PAREAKEET 

 (Loriculus galgulus). 



Green ; a triangular golden yellow spot on upper 

 back ; a bright yellow belt across lower back ; rump 

 and upper tail-coverts scarlet ; tail with yellowish green 

 tip ; a dark blue spot on middle of crown ; a large 

 scarlet patch on throat; greater under wing-coverts, 

 inner web of flights below, and tail below verditer- 

 blue ; beak and cere black ; feet grey or buffish brown ; 

 irides dark brown. Female noticeably duller, with no 

 scarlet on throat or yellow belt across lower back ; the 

 beak broader, rather shorter and more arched. Hab., 

 Wellesley Province to Singapore, Sumatra, Nias, 

 Bangka, and Borneo. 



Mr. F. Nicholson (The Ibis, 1888, p. 239) s?ays that 

 in Sumatra this species is met with " in villages on 

 cocoanut trees, and kept by natives in cages." 



Mr. C. Hose says (The Ibis, 1893, p. 416) : "This 

 little Lorikeet is found on all cleared land, and ascends 

 Mount Dulit to 2,000 ft. It is caught by the natives 

 in large numbers. Native name, ' Entalit.' ' 



This is a species tolerably well known to bird- 

 keepers, and has been exhibited from time to time. 

 Russ says that, according to F. T. Salva, it does great 

 mischief in Borneo to the sugar-cane plantations, sugar- 

 cane being a favourite food. Its song, according to 



Dr. Frenzel, is a true melody similar to that of the 



Red-rumped and Plain-headed Parrakeets, late in the 



evening and early in the morning. Call-note, zizizizi. 



The London Zoological Society first purchased a pair 



BLUE-CROWNED HANGING PARROTS. 



in 1869 ; in 1873 five were added to the collection, and 

 in 1875 two more. Others have been received since 

 that date, the last recorded in the ninth edition of the 

 " List of Animals " being three presented in 1889. 



SCLATER'S HANGING PARRAKEET (Loriculus sclateri). 



Green, flights and tail darker, the former with black 

 inner webs above, the latter with pale tip ; a large 

 orange-yellow patch, becoming orange-vermilion in the 



