THE PURPLE-CAPPED LOEY. 143 



large pen-feathers are dark green ; scarlet on the inner half, 

 and ashen grey at the points. The two centre tail feathers 

 are green at the root and tips, but pale red in the middle. 

 The next on each side are more than half red, the other part 

 green. The four outermost are scarlet at the root, violet in 

 the centre, and dark green at the tips. 



Remarks. This bird is a native of the Moluccas ; is, like the 

 preceding, docile, and requires similar treatment. 



45. THE PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. 



Psittacus Domicella, LIN. Lory a Collier, BUF. Der Purpurkappige 

 Lory, BECH. 



Description. This bird, so beautiful in plumage, and so 

 noble in general appearance, is about the size of a Pigeon, 

 being ten inches and a half in length. The beak is orange. 

 The naked membrane, as well as the circle of the eyes, black- 

 ish ; the iris a dark reddish brown ; the feet ashen-grey ; the 

 claws black. The prevailing colour of the plumage is red; 

 dark on the back, and lighter on the neck. The top of the 

 head is a purple black, the back of it inclining to blueish pur- 

 ple. The throat is encircled by a light yellow, crescent-shaped 

 collar, of varying distinctness. The edges of the wing and the 

 lesser wing coverts are dark blue ; the remaining portion of 

 the wings grass-green, shot with light yellow. The larger 

 pen feathers are a fine blue ; the lesser yellowish green. The 

 tail is rounded, except that towards the point it is somewhat 

 wedge-shaped, and is of a blueish purple colour, with a tinge 

 of reddish brown. The knee bands are blue, slightly inclining 

 to green. 



The female is smaller than the male ; the collar on the neck 

 is either wanting, or very indistinct ; the blueish black colour 

 of the head is less extensive; the edges of the wings are 

 mingled blue and green ; and there is no other blue upon the 

 wings. 



Variety. In a variety of this species, the lower part of the 

 back, the rump, the lower part of the belly, and the thighs, 

 are white and rose-coloured. The upper and under tail 

 coverts red and white; the wing coverts green, mixed with 

 light yellpw ; the beak of the same colour. The rest of the 

 plumage is as above described. 



Observations. In general habits this Lory agrees with 



