142 THE CERAM LOBY. 



Attractive Qualities. This Parrot, like all the various 

 species of Lory, not only learns very easily to speak and 

 whistle, but to make all kinds of gestures, and is particularly 

 distinguished by its affectionate conduct towards those who 

 treat it kindly. The present variety is preferred by many, 

 as it does not utter the unpleasant wild cry so ceaselessly 

 made by the Lories, especially in the breeding season. It is 

 very fond of imitating the voice of children, and prefers to be 

 taught by them. The extent of its imitative powers may be 

 inferred from an example given by BUTTON. A Grey Parrot 

 was taught to speak by a sailor, in the course of a voyage from 

 Guinea, and acquired so exactly his harsh voice and cough, as 

 to be frequently mistaken for him. It was afterwards in- 

 structed by a young man, and although it then heard no 

 voice but that of its teacher, the former lessons were never 

 forgotten; and it often amused the bystanders by suddenly 

 passing from a soft and agreeable voice to its old hoarse sea 

 tone. This bird has not only the powej of mimicking the 

 human voice, but by its attention and manifest effort, shows 

 also a desire of imitation. It continually repeats the syllables 

 which it has heard, and, in order not to be misled in memory, 

 endeavours to cry down all sounds which may disturb it. Its 

 lessons make so deep an impression, that, as I have myself 

 often noticed, it dreams aloud. When young, its memory is 

 so good as to retain whole verses and sentences. EHODIGINUS 

 mentions a Grey Parrot which could repeat the Apostles' 

 Creed without a slip, and was on that account bought by a 

 cardinal for one hundred crowns. 



44. THE CERAM LORY. 



Psittacus Garrulus, LIN. Lory de Ceram, BUF. Der Geschw'dtzige 

 Lory, BECH. 



Description. The Lory of Ceram is about the size of a 

 Pigeon, being ten or eleven inches long. It is very variable 

 in colour, but the following description is the most accurate 

 that can be given : The beak is orange ; the naked membrane 

 at the base, and the circle of the eyes, ashen grey ; the iris 

 dark yellow ; the feet brown. The prevailing colour of the 

 body is scarlet, with the exception of the smaller and under- 

 wing coverts, which are a mixture of green and yellow. The 



