;6



ENQUIRIES.


Sir, —May I ask of any' member of the Council or Society, who has

had experience, what is the best food for the so-called Blue Mountain Lory—

Swainson’s Eorikeet ?


Dr. Greene says they will live a few weeks or months on seed, and

then die in fits of indigestion, and gives rice boiled in sweetened milk as

the rational diet, also sweet fruit.


Dr. Russ says the staple food should be canary seed, oats, and a little

hemp, with moistened stale wheaten bread in addition, and sweet fruit daily.

Speaking generally of Dories and Lorikeets, he says the supposed delicacy

of these birds arises from ignorant treatment, t.e., feeding on boiled RICE,

which may suit them in their own hot climate, but is too hurtful in ours.

Also that cows’ milk is injurious to Lories.


Here we have two experts diametrically opposed in the most im¬

portant matter of feeding.


My pair are in superb plumage, and, apparently thoroughly' healthy

and acclimatised, so I wish to take care of them. I am giving canary, oats,

and hemp, which they eat well. Also old bread dipped in very sweet milk,

or freshly 7 made cheese curd rolled in powdered sugar—both these they 7 lick

with their tongues and then eat it with relish. They are rather thirsty birds,

and love bathing.


Dr. Greene accuses them of being fierce and cruel as liaw 7 ks: his pair

having murdered two of his Parrakeets and injured another. May I ask if

this is the average experience ? Mine are in a cage, but it would be a con¬

venience to me if I could trust them in a space n feet by 7 4 feet by 7 6 to 9 feet

high, in company w 7 ith a pair each of Cockatiels, Grey-headed Love-birds,

and Budgerigars.


Finally 7 , is their any 7 difference in the sexes ? Mine are exactly 7 alike

in size and plumage, except that one has distinct blue pencillings on the

edges of its scarlet breast-feathers, which scarcely show 011 the other. They 7

spend their time caressing and then snapping at each other. They yelp like

a newdy-cliained up fox terrier pup with a voice like an ungreased cart¬

wheel. A. A. Pearson.



7 he following answer has been sent to Mr. Pearson —


Your letter re Swainson’s Lorikeet has been sent to me to be answered.


I should recommend biscuit soaked in boiled milk as the staple diet,

with the addition of some fruit daily. Apples are generally preferred to all

other fruit, and one good-sized apple will be enough for a pair of Lorikeets.

I11 the summer they 7 may 7 have green food. A little canary 7 seed and oats

will do no harm, but I should not recommend hemp. If they have a

constant supply of properly made sop, they will probably almost entirely

give up eating seed. The sop must be made fresh every 7 day 7 , but it will

keep good for twenty-four hours, even in the hottest weather. It should be

unsweetened—this I believe to be important.


It would not be safe to place the Lorikeets with other birds, unless

they 7 were very carefully 7 watched at first, as they are often murderously

spiteful. I should not care to trust them with smaller birds.


Horatio R. Fieemer.



