38 



The Violet-necked Lory is the oldest known species of this genus bearing a purple collar, 

 having been first described in 1776 in Sonnerat's ' Voyage to New Guinea.' It is very like 

 E. wallacei, the only marked difference being that the purple of the collar extends up the 

 nape to the top of the head— at least to the occiput. This character, however, as we shall 

 see, is not absolutely constant, so that it seems difficult to regard E. wallacei, E. insularis, 

 and E. riciniata as more than three varieties, differing as to geographical distribution and 

 somewhat in size. 



The general colour is red, which extends over the whole back, uropygium, and upper 

 tail-coverts, and over the breast, forehead, and sides of the head. The upper surface of the 

 tail is of a dull red ; the tail-feathers are bright red at the base of the inner web, yellowish 

 red with golden reflections towards the tip. The collar round the neck is purple, and that 

 colour is prolonged upwards on to the hinder part of the head. There is purple on the lower 

 breast and anterior part of the abdomen. The under tail-coverts are purple. The wings are 

 generally red above and below, but some of the largest scapulars are of a dull purple. The 

 primaries are black, with the base of the inner web red, and the secondaries and greater 

 wing-coverts are red with black tips. The bill is orange-red, and the feet are dusky black. 

 The iris is yellow. Total length 10 inches, wing 5'G, tail 4, bill - 7S, tarsus 0"6. 



The young are described as profusely marked with dark olive narrow bands, only the 

 tips of the feathers being red ; the scapulars dark olive ; the occiput red ; a purple band 

 across the front of the neck ; and the tail-coverts red, edged with olive. 



Of the specimens in the British Museum there is a young bird (from Batchian) with 

 no collar-like mark, except in front, and this is but obscurely indicated. In another 

 (No. 91.2.12.5 from Ternate) the head, occiput, and nape are red; but in one from Wallace's 

 collection (73.5.12.1478) all the head, save the forehead, and all the throat, except the 

 mentum, are dark purple. These facts confirm our suspicion as to the incomplete distinctness 

 of these species, as does Dr. Guillemard's remark that in one specimen of E. insularis the 

 nuchal collar joined the violet head-patch. Our artist has represented a much transversely 

 banded specimen. 



