Further Noles on the Black-7vmged Lory. 209 
its foot to the side of his canoe. When the bargain was com- 
pleted it was passed up on board fastened to a fishing line, cling- 
ing on by its beak and feet. This bird soon became extra- 
ordinarily tame, and was the best talker of any species of Lory I 
liave known, and quite without any attempt on our part to teach 
it. It spoke both English and Malay and always called me 
" Papa," which, strange to say, it never applied to anyone else 
when they went near it. I expect my Indian servant taught it 
to say this, as it was a word it could never have heard used. It 
also imitated the calls of many other birds: the very irritating 
notes of some Honey Eaters, which frequented the casuarina trees 
around the native house I lived in ; also the screech of Eclectus 
Parrots, which were constantly flying overhead. Wherever we 
stayed it quickly learnt the names of the natives who were em- 
ployed about the places ; and, later on, when it travelled with 
me a great deal by steamer among the Malay Islands, it picked 
up all manner of native talk, besides constantly fooling the bosou 
and crew with its most perfect imitation of the ofiicer's whistle. 
It was also a great acrobat, seldom quiet for long together. 
At Humboll's Bay my house was perpetually invaded by 
native visitors who came from far and near to see the only white 
luan there. They always squatted on the floor of the verandah 
under the Lory's swing, so its great amusement was to let itself 
down to the full length of its chain and pull the nodding feathers 
•or flowers from their frizzy mops of hair. After living and 
travelling with me for eight months in the East, it died at sea a 
few days after I finally left the Arvi Islands for home. It had 
been ailing for some weeks and had completely ceased all its 
chatter. I found its death was due to tapeworms, which seem to 
be very prevalent among New Guinea birds. Mj^ two Indians 
were deeply attached to this bird and were every bit as sorry as I 
-was when it died, and still speak about it whenever I see them 
in Singapore. 
Before this died I had secured two more of the same kind 
on my wa)' back through Manoekwarri. One of these, an old 
bird, flew overboard shortly afterwards and escaped to land as we 
were nearing the island of Saparoera, through some Malay passen- 
gers interfering with the cage doors. The other one was quite a 
