Breeding of the Fair Lorikeet.



29



catcher ( Muscicapa cyanomelcena), etc. and besides a good many

foreign birds, chiefly from Australia and the South Sea Islands.

Of them another time.'"'



BREEDING OF THE FAIR LORIKEET.


By E. J. Brook.


Probably no member of the Parrot tribe is more graceful or

beautiful than the little Lory, with the imposing name of Gharmo-

synopsis pulcliella or Eair Lory.


A gem of bright green and crimson, the breast marked across

by a band of golden dashes like marks of interrogation. Always

interesting with its vivacious impulsive movements, always on the

move as if ready for any fun that may present itself, it is at the

same time quite safe with other inmates of the aviary.


The pair I write about are in an aviary with Tanagers and

Sunbirds and have never shown any inclination to harm their

companions.


Just over five years ago I obtained these birds from New

Guinea, and though they have nested on several occasions, the one

egg they lay has always proved unfertile till this summer. I am

not sure what the period of incubation was, for after numerous

disappointments I ceased taking much interest in their domestic

affairs.


We found that there was a young bird in the nest, evidently

just after it was hatched, and it remained in the log exactly two

months; it is now flying and feeding itself.t


The young bird differs from the parents in having no golden

marks on the breast, these being displaced by a blotchy band of

green. There are small green feathers blotched about all over the

breast down to the vent, but the general colouring of this region is

crimson as in the adult.


The green of the back is continued up the nape to the top of


* Some of these birds would be very acceptable to English aviculturists,

especially perhaps the Blue Flycatcher.—ED.

f This is the first time that this species has been bred in captivity in the

British Isle's.—ED.



