50** PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. 



to be found together again very soon. They had a strong homing 

 faculty. They might sometimes fly nearly half a mile away, to a covert 

 out of sight of home, but always about five they would be found on 

 the cornice of the house, where they roosted, if they did not feel 

 sufficiently hungry to come to their cage. It was very pretty to see 

 them fly home. They were like living jewels as their bright scarlet 

 bodies flashed through the air. They did not always come home 

 together: sometimes one would be back twenty minutes earlier than 

 the other, but at five the cornice of the house was pretty sure to hold 

 them. 



If they could have gone on like this, I should probably have them 

 now; but winter was coming, and they would not have been able to 

 stand autumn, still less winter, days out. I felt I could not have 

 them in a sitting-room through winter, when windows must necessarily 

 be more closed, and their smell would render the room unbearable, so 

 in September I parted with them to the Zoological Gardens, where I 

 believe they still are, in this November, 1883. 



If any one should think of buying a Purple-cap or a Oeram Lory, 

 for I imagine the remarks about one apply equally to the other, I 

 would advise him to secure a thoroughly tame bird, and one that can 

 already say one or two words at least. For this he must be prepared 

 to give rather more than he would for an ordinary Lory, which is worth 

 about fifty shillings. 



