45 



LORXUS. 



THE TYPICAL LORIES. 



Lorius, Vigors*, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 400 (1825). 



Type of the genus : L. domiceUa. 



Generic characters. — Size about that of a turtle-dove ; tail-feathers twelve; point of maxilla long but not 

 thin; tail of moderate length, the feathers broad and rounded at their ends; two middle tail-feathers 

 longer than the lateral ones; bill orange-red ; wings green. (Cf. Salvadori, Brit. Mus. Cat. I. c.) 



Range. From the Moluccas to the Solomon Islands and Louisiade Archipelago. Six species inhabit New 

 Guinea. 



The typical Lories, which might also (especially in contrast to the species of the genus Eos) 

 be called " the Green-winged " Lories, constitute another group of birds about the size of a 

 turtle-dove. They differ from, the species of Chalcopsittacus in that the bill is more or less 

 orange-red and never black, while their green wings mark them off, as before said, from the 

 species which constitute the genus Eos. 



These true Lories generally have the top of the head black or purple, though it may be 

 (as in L. tibialis, L. garrulus, and L. flavopalliatus) red. The colour of the body is red, 

 generally, but not always, with more or less purple ; the tail is purple, red, or green above ; 

 there may be a yellow collar beneath the neck. The thighs are mostly purple or blue, but 

 may be green. 



Of the twelve reputed species which compose the genus, four belong to New Guinea 

 exclusively; two to New Guinea and islands east and west of it; one to Mysore; two 

 to Amboyna with another island (Ceram in one case — L. domicella ; Batchian in the other — 

 L. flavopalliatus) ; another species (E. garrulus) to Halmahera ; one (E. chlorocercus) to 

 the Solomon Islands ; and one to some unknown habitat, probably one or more of the 

 Molucca islands. This genus does not reach so far north as does Eos ; but it extends further 

 to the south, namely to the Louisiade Archipelago, as also to islands between New Guiuea 

 and the Solomon Islands. 



These bright, gay birds all go in flocks to feed on the honey of flowers. As a rule, if 

 captured young, they make excellent pets for those who do not mind somewhat noisy birds. 

 There is a conflict of testimony as to their speaking powers, but, on the whole, it seems to us 

 probable that but few individuals acquire facility and variety of articulation, though some 

 seem unquestionably to possess it. They, at least when taken young, will show affection to 

 their owners who are kind and caressing to them, and they are affectionate and caressing to 

 each other. They are, however, as a rule, difficult to maintain long in captivity, and 

 sometimes, even in their own geographical region, will die suddenly from some as yet 

 unascertained cause. 



* Biisson made use of the word (Orn. iv. pp. 215, 222, & 225), but not as designating a generic group of birds. 



