PUBPLE-OAPPBD LORY. 47 



elegant plumage, but for the docility it evinces, and its distinct utterance 

 of words and sentences, it is also lively and active in its disposition, 

 and fond of being caressed/' 



"As a ventriloquist", writes Mr. Gredney, "the Purple-cap possesses 

 no equal, and the manner in which he will imitate domestic sounds, 

 throwing his voice to the opposite side of the room, is perfectly startling 



to a stranger They require to share the constant society of their 



owner, and find intense delight in being frequently petted and caressed, 

 repeating all the endearing expressions of their favourite attendant with 

 a readiness and fluency which is quite astonishing." 



We might multiply quotations to almost any extent, all couched in 

 similar strains, but cm bono? enough has been said to demonstrate the 

 necessity under which every one who calls himself a fancier of foreign 

 birds remains to become, at the earliest possible opportunity, the pos- 

 sessor of one, or, better still, of a pair of these most delightful birds. 



"We have said that they are to be treated exactly as recommended 

 for the Blue Mountain, but they are hardy enough to live on a much 

 more meagre diet; indeed some authorities consider that bread and milk 

 sop is sufficient to preserve them in health: but we do not; so treated 

 they are very apt to suffer from diarrhaea, and, as in some instances 

 that have come under our cognizance, to ultimately die from consump- 

 tion, which is surely a consummation to be avoided, and which certainly 

 can be prevented by proper care and attention. 



In one respect the Purple-cap differs from the Blue Mountain in the 

 matter of diet, it does not seem at all to care about insect food, but 

 is particularly fond of fruit, particularly ripe grapes, which it sucks 

 with much apparent pleasure. 



As we have already written a good deal about this bird elsewhere, 

 we are unwilling to repeat what we have said, and draw our account 

 to a conclusion, merely remarking that although the orange beak of 

 the Purple-cap appears to be a formidable weapon of offence no less 

 than defence, on account of its size and the sharp point with which 

 it is terminated, it is really most harmless, its most terrible bite 

 amounting to a mere nibble and nothing more; so that we are of 

 opinion that any aviarist desirous of getting it to breed in his aviary 

 must provide it with ready-made burrows in which to nest, as it is 

 quite incapable, from the weakness of the buccal muscles to excavate 

 a hollow for itself in any log, no matter how decayed and soft. But all 

 the Indian Lories are weak billed, and must on no account be placed 

 in the same enclosure with any of their African or Australian congeners, 

 who are sharp and strong of beak, and, many of them, of cruel and 

 vindictive disposition. 



