Parrots £^ Parakeets 175 



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One kind of lory is a gorgeous azure blue, others 

 are for the most part brilliant scarlet with yellow, 

 blue, and green markings. 



Flocks of the Blue Mountain lory inhabit the 

 eucalyptus forests of Australia and Tasmania, moving 

 with an arrow-like flight from tree to tree, where they 

 extract the honey from the flowers. 



They would be delightful cage pets if only their 

 voices were more melodious, but their shrill cries and 

 constant screamings are most trying. 



Then there are the big nestor parrots of New 

 Zealand. The kea, a fine bird with olive - green 

 plumage, mingled with blue and yellow in the wings 

 and tail, and scarlet underneath, has degenerated sadly ; 

 for it chases the sheep, gnaws a hole in their backs, 

 and eats the kidney fat ; so that it is killed down as 

 much as possible, and will probably in time become 

 extinct. A pity ! for it is a handsome bird, and a 

 decidedly pleasant cage pet. 



But of all the parrot tribe, my favourites are the 

 various kinds of Australian parakeets, many species of 

 which used to be imported to England much more 

 than they are now. 



It is said that the reason for their rarity, as in the 

 case of the pretty little turquoisine, is the fact that 

 they have been driven much farther inland away from 

 more civilised haunts, from several reasons. 



Turquoisines used to be imported quite frequently ; 

 now they are barely obtainable. 



Such lovely little fellows, with their rich green 

 bodies, tails, and wings, the latter being adorned with a 



