198 THE BIRDS OF AUSTEALIA 



The Loriidce live almost exclusively on honey. Cockatoos 

 and Parrots usually go in flocks, except when nesting, and feed 

 mainly on grain, seeds and fruits. They all lay white eggs in 

 hollows in trees, except the Psephotus pulcherrimiis, which lays 

 in certain mounds of the Termites or White ants. Those of the 

 Loriidce have no gloss, all the others have. 



Genus Trichoglossus. 



Key to the Species. 



Middle of abdomen blue; liead entirely blue. T, novce-hollandise- 



Head and abdomen bright blue. T. septentrionalis. 



Band on the neck orange. T. rubritorques. 



The Blue-bellied Lorikeet. 



Trichoglossus novm-hollandiw. 



Back, tail and wiiigs green, yellowish-green band on neck. Total 

 length 12 inches, wing 6.7, tail 5.5, bill 0.7, tarsus 0.5. Two eggs are 

 usually laid, and measure about 1.10 x .93 inch. 



This bird, as well as the two following, usually lives in flocks. 

 They fly very fast, and are noisy birds. 



The Northern Blue-bellied Lorikeet. 



Trichoglossus septentrionalis. 



North-east Australia. 



Very similar to T, novce-hollandice, but of smaller dimensions, and the 

 blue is brighter and purer. Iris red, feet black, bill red. Eggs measure 

 1.02 X .80. 



These birds are very plentiful in the dense coastal scrubs. 



The Red-collared Lorikeet. 



Trichoglossus rubritorques. 



Northern Australia. 



Head and throat blue, breast orange-red, with blue cross band on 

 hind neck, abdomen green, bill red. Total length 12 inches, wing 6.3, 

 tail 6, bill 0.85, tarsus 0.65. Eggs measure about 1.09 x .85 inch. 



These birds are plentiful in the scrub on the Daly River. 



