PSITTACID^ 



AGAPORNIS 



233 



" This bird does not make any nest of its own, but takes posses- 

 sion of those belonging to other birds, especially the Social Weaver 

 Bird (Philetcerus socius) (vol. i, p. 115) and the White-browed 

 Weaver Bird (Ploceipasser maliali) (vol. i, p. 83). I cannot say 

 whether it forcibly ejects the rightful owners of these nests, or 

 merely occupies such as have been abandoned, but in the case of 

 the first-named species, I have seen the Parrots and Weaver Birds 

 incubating in about equal numbers under the shelter of the same 

 friendly roof. The egg is pure white not unlike a Woodpecker's but 

 more elongated." Examples in the South African Museum 

 measure 0-92 x 0-69. 



These birds are amusing pets in an aviary though somewhat 

 quarrelsome and inclined to bully other birds. 



490. Agapornis lilianae. Nyasaland Lovebird. 



Agapornis lilianae, Shelley, Ibis, 1894, p. 466, pi. 12 ; id. B. Afr. i, 

 p. 141 (1896) ; Alexander, Ibis, 1900, p. 431 [Zambesi] . 



. Male. Head and throat brick-red, inclining to 

 vermilion towards the forehead, the back of the head and hinder 

 neck greenish-yellow ; remainder of the plumage bright grass- 

 green, slightly paler and yellower on the under parts ; inner webs 

 of the quills dark brown ; tail with a blackish subterminal band and 

 a scarlet basal patch on all but the central feathers. 



Iris hazel ; bill rose coloured ; base of mandible and soft parts 

 round the eye, bluish-flesh ; legs and feet flesh colour. 



Length 5'2 ; wing 3-45 ; culmen 0-06 ; tarsus O05. 



The female has the head and throat slightly paler ; wing 3-5. 



Distribution. The types, obtained by Mr. Whyte and described 

 by Captain Shelley, were shot at Fort Liwondi on the upper Shire, 

 where this bird had apparently been observed thirty years previously 

 by Sir John Kirk. Mr. Alexander has recently met with the same 

 bird along the Zambesi between Chicowa and Zumbo. 



Habits. This Lovebird is found in flocks of about twenty 

 individuals, the greater number of which are males. They frequent 

 thick undergrowth along the banks of the Zambesi and Shire rivers 

 in one or two limited localities, and are usually only seen on their 

 way to and from the river, to which they resort daily, uttering as 

 they go rounds of cries almost in unison, but so shrill that they 

 almost set one's teeth on edge. 



