358 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



Three genera, Psittacella, Cydopsittacus, and Nasiterna, represented by eighteen 

 species are recognized, but so little are they known that only the last mentioned has 

 received a common name, pigmy parrots. In size they are the smallest of the 

 order, and in their coloration green predominates, relieved by blue, scarlet, yellow, 

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

 extend beyond the barbs. 



The lories form the family TRICHOGLOSSID^E, and have about the same distribution 

 as the Micropsittacidae and Platycercidaj. The characters of their bill and tongue at 



once separate them from all 

 others. The former is as 

 long as or longer than high, 

 smooth and usually without 

 distinct teeth, while the tip 

 of the tongue is beset with' 

 bundles of bristly papillae 

 (except in the genus Coryl- 

 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 quick flyers, and jump 

 about among the branches, 

 but do not climb, as do many 

 of the forms yet to be des- 

 cribed. Soft fruits form the 

 bulk 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, 

 eighty-eight species are recognized. 



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

 between a sparrow and a dove ; in their coloration green pi-edominates, and next in 

 order comes red, especially on the breast. The long tails taper to a rounded point, 

 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, 

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

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

 (Eucalyptus) which form so prominent a feature in the vegetation 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 broad-tailed lories belonging to the genus Domlcella. Their 

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



FIG. 163. Nasiterna pygmcea, pigmy parrot. 



