264 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(178) THE CEYLONESE HANGING PAEEAKEET. 

 (LOKICULUS ASIATICTTS— (Lath.) ) 



Description.— Total length about 5 inches ; the general colour of the 

 plumage green ; forehead and crown deep red, washed with orange on 

 the nape ; rump and upper tail-coverts also deep red ; some of the 

 quills edged with blue ; cheeks and the area round the eyes and the 

 whole of the under surface pale green, tinged with blue in the foreneck. 



Bab.— The Island of Ceylon. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 A pair of them lived close upon seven years. 



(179) THE BLUE-CEOWNED HANGING PAEEAKEET. 

 (LOEICULUS GALGVUJS-(Linn.) ) 



Description.— Length 4J inches to 5 inches ; general colour of the 

 plumage green ; French blue flake on the crown ; a triangular patch of 

 golden yellow on the back ; upper tail- coverts red ; a red patch on the 

 breast ; bill black ; the female differs from the male in having no blue 

 patch on the head and no red on the breast ; the golden yellow of the 

 back also faint. 



Bab.— Malacca. 



Length of life in captivity. 



This species also has not done well in captivity, so that none of 

 them have ever lived more than two years. 



Treatment in health. 



Bousing. — A large aviary, where they can fly about at pleasure 

 and enjoy some freedom, is no doubt very desirable for these birds, but 

 such an arrangement has its disadvantages also ; the birds get lost in the 

 space and, amongst others, the food intended for them — and they require 

 somewhat special feeding— is robbed by other birds ; they starve or eat 

 anything that comes in their way, become ill and die ; so that it is on 

 the whole better to keep them in large cages such as that recommended 

 for the liothrix (No. 23), either by themselves, or with such harmless 

 birds as the liothrix and Java sparrows ; the cage should be furnished 

 with logs of wood or cocoanut shells to enable them to find employment 

 and exercise in pecking ; they must have access to water both for 

 drinking and bathing; avoid as much as possible keeping them in very 

 small cages. 



Feeding. — The majority of deaths that have happened among these 

 birds shortly after their arrival must unfortunately be attributed to 

 ignorance of their food ; the general practice among the dealers is to 

 feed them on boiled rice, a most unsuitable diet for birds which in 



