52 TRI-C0L0T7RED LORY. 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. Duttort 's account of the Tri-coloured 

 Lory (Lorius tricolor). 



This bird, which is called by the French and Germans the Lady- 

 Lory, is about the size and shape of the Purple-capped, but differs 

 from it very much in its plumage. It is much more gorgeously 

 coloured. The cap on its head is pure black; the sides of the head 

 and throat and neck are a glowiug carmine; the back of the neck and 

 shoulders are violet-blue; the middle of the back, the rump, and upper 

 tail coverts are carmine; the wing feathers are dark green on the outer 

 side and yellow on the inner, with black tips; the tail feathers are 

 red for the first half, but run into violet at the end. Underneath, 

 the bird is of a rich violet blue, passing into a brighter blue round 

 the thighs, and towards the tail. The beak is orange, like the Purple- 

 capped Lories, the eyes are dark, aud the legs and feet are dark. 

 Puss says there are different colours, and different sizes. I have only 

 seen four specimens myself. I did not notice any difference in colour, 

 but one of the four was much smaller than the others. But it is not 

 only the colour of this Lory which makes it so much more lovely than 

 the Purple-cap, but a peculiar silky texture of the plumage that gives 

 the bird's plumage an indescribable lustre. As I have said, I have 

 only seen four, and perhaps one must not generalize too hastily, but 

 three out of the four had the most delightfully charming ways. They 

 loved to be played with, and having a much pleasanter note than 

 other Lories, suggested great possibilities of talking and whistling. 



I fancy they are not very long-lived. The drawback to them is 

 that they are not seed-eaters; at least I could not induce the one I 

 kept to have anything to do with seed. But if any one could intro- 

 duce Tri-colour Lories, on seed, I can conceive of no more charming 

 Parrot for a cage bird. They are very fond of washing. If they are 

 allowed to fly loose they do not wander far. They very seldom come 

 into the market, and so command a higher price than the Purple-cap, 

 for whereas the Purple-cap may sometimes be bought as low as thirty- 

 two shillings, the cheapest Tri-colour ever offered me was £4. But 

 they are such charming birds, that in spite of my dislike to Parrots 

 that want soft food, I can hardly resist buying them when offered. 



A word in conclusion as to its name. I cannot understand why 

 we should have christened it the Tri-colour Lory, seeing it has at 

 least six or seven different colours. The French have much more 

 reason in calling the Oeram Lory, Lori tri-colore, for that really has 

 only three colours. By far the best name is Bechstein's of the Black- 

 capped Lory, though the French have given that to the Purple-cap. 



