ORNITHOLOGY. 



The head is very round, smooth, and of a highly polish- 

 ed appearance, and being as well as the neck, of a rich 

 scarlet colour, is surmounted with a slight hairy crest, con- 

 sisting of black and green feathers, fitting closely. The 

 bill is pointed and sinuatcd, projecting over the under 

 mandible, and of a bright chesnut colour. The shoulders 

 are tipt with a bright spot of yellow, the middle of the 

 back and wings are of a rich green, below this three 

 colours occur, blue in the center, scarlet and green on each 

 side, and the whole tail is of a dark olive colour, with the 

 exception of the edges which are of an amber or red. In 

 respect to elegance of form and appearance, this bird 

 certainly claims the pre-eminence over most of his compeers, 

 although the eye being placed very much backwards in 

 the head gives it rather an uncouth appearance, something 

 in the same manner as is the case with the Woodcock and 

 Snipe. To those who are admirers of strong contrast and 

 glaring colours, we therefore recommend the Papuan Lory, 

 as Nature establishes varieties sometimes by elegance of 

 form, joined to neatness of pattern; at other times, by an 

 amazing richness and contrast of tints, but seldom bestowing 

 therewith any very valuable qualities of voice or disposition, 

 so that we may exclaim with one of our most favourite 

 poets, 



"■ Thus is Nature's vesture wrought. 

 To instruct the waud'ring thought." 



