334



Mr. H. D. AstlEY,



very curious feature in this bird is it’s great gape of mouth, the

edges of which stand out at the sides in rather the same way as

in the case of young birds, such as Starling, etc. : within, the

mouth is primrose yellow and the throat pink, looking when

opened like the cup of a gloximia. This interesting Bower Bird

was found in 1894, (see Ibis , 1895, pi. viii. and p. 343), in the

Owen Stanley Range.


Of Lories, Mr. Goodfellow has brought home many in¬

dividuals in magnificent condition and quite tame, representing

three species.


Charmosyna stellce, of which there are five pairs, are most

beautiful. In size about that of a Rosella Parrakeet, but of

much finer build, the gorgeous plumage, which is chiefly of a

rich cardinal red and magnolia green, having a gloss on it which

could be exceeded by no bird in the wild state. The tail is long

and pointed, and slightly curves inwards at the end, being green

at the base, and terminating in bright orange-red. The female

is distinguished by a patch of brilliant yellow on the lower back,

where in the male it is crimson. These Lories would make

charming pets, as they do not give vent to the ear-piercing

screams which most of the members of the family delight in.


Charmosy?iopsis pulchella of which there are four pairs and

two hens is not unlike a miuature edition of Charmosyna stellce.

A lovely little bird, very little larger in the body than a Budgeri¬

gar, but not so long in the tail, which however is very pointed

and ends in a beautiful orange colour. It is called the Fair Lory

(or Lorikeet). It’s head and underparts of a brilliant cardinal

red, with narrow streaks of yellow on the breast, a patch of violet-

blue at the back of the head, and it’s upper parts and wings,

rich green ; the female can be distinguished by a patch of yellow

on the flanks.


Most confiding little jewels are these vividly-coloured birds.


One male of Hypocharmosyna placens (The Pleasing

Lorikeet) was brought, which made one long for more ! It’s

colour a brilliant and rich green, the cheeks of a beautiful red

near the bill, and blue over the ears; red also predominating 011

the sides beneath the wings ; and the bill the same colour.


A great, or rather a little treasure died in the Mediter-



