PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. 50* 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. DuttorC s account of the 

 Purple-capped Lory (Lorius domicella). 



The Purple-capped Lory is, I think, overrated in all the accounts 

 I have seen. Bechstein's account made me most anxious to have one, 

 but although I wished and wished for years, I never had the oppor- 

 tunity till the spring of 1882. In January of that year, I saw some 

 advertised by M. Celle de Sprimont, and bought a pair which reached 

 me in February. 



I had long learnt from observation of those at the Zoological Gardens 

 to take Bechstein's remarks cum grano, but I was not prepared to find 

 the Purple-cap as untameable as mine were. They were bold birds, 

 but nothing would induce them to take anything from my hand. This 

 is not to be taken as implying that the Lories are not most caressing 

 and attractive in their ways, but it shows that to become so they must 

 be brought up by hand. My pair were, I was told, bred in the aviary 

 in Belgium, so, no doubt, they had no special taming. Again with 

 regard to their talking powers, there is no doubt that some specimens 

 are excellent talkers, but the majority do not talk at all. I have seen 

 many, and never seen a talking one yet, and I am confirmed in my 

 view that generally they do not talk by one of our largest bird-dealers. 

 I found my pair very noisy, but not unendurably so. One could not 

 very well talk to any one else when they were in the room, but when 

 I was alone, I did not mind their cries. They smelt as much as a 

 Hawk would have smelt, and often I had to have their cage cleaned 

 twice a day. They were bright and active, and very fond of bathing. 



I agree with Dr. Greene and disagree with Bechstein as to their 

 hardiness. They are chilly birds, very sensitive to cold, but not delicate. 

 Their chilliness, I think, comes from the extreme thinness of their 

 plumage. They appear to have very little down compared to the other 

 Parrots. They would never eat seed. I was told they had been fed 

 on rice, but they never would touch- it. So I gave them what I find 

 all brush-tongued Parrots like, — bun and fig soaked in boiling water, 

 and then mashed into a pulp. Later on in the day they had sponge- 

 cake soaked in water. 



As the weather became warmer, I turned them loose. They showed 

 to great advantage in the garden. Their movements are a quick, 

 hopping step like that of the Barbets. They never liked being separated 

 for long, and if one flew to a distance from the other, they were sure 



