52 PARROTS. 



stones and hurling anathemas. All the Parrakeets 

 lay white eggs, usually four, in a hole, about the 

 beginning of the year. A hole in either a tree or a 

 wall will do, and I have seen a pair prospecting a 

 little architectural orifice in the dome of the 

 Mahaluxmee temple. I said that, with one exception, 

 the Parrots of India belonged to the group distin- 

 guished as Parrakeets. The exception is the Indian 

 Lorikeet (Loriculus vernalis), that quaint little 

 grass-green bird, with crimson back and blue throat, 

 about the size of a sparrow, which is offered for sale 

 in pairs under the name of Lovebird. It lives on 

 plantains and soft fruits, and sleeps hanging by its 

 feet from the top of its cage. This is one of the birds 

 of Bombay, though I daresay few know it. It flies 

 very swiftly, and when it alights among foliage as 

 green as itself, it is practically invisible ; so it escapes 

 observation ; but its sharp, triple chirp, always 

 uttered when flying, may be heard about the lower 

 road to Malabar Point. 



