MUSK LORIKEET. 
Mr. Christian has also forwarded me a note : “ These birds may be found 
in any flowering gum-tree, but they only come to us here (in Victoria) for the 
summer-blossoming gums and not when other gums are in blossom at other 
times of the year. Chattering and noisily a whole flock will take possession 
of the trees, as they generally go about in large flocks. When shot they will 
sometimes cling to the bough, and are extremely hard to get down, hanging 
head downwards with the nectar running out of their mouths. They some- 
times gorge themselves with pears, so that, either intoxicated or helpless through 
greed, they may be caught by hand.” 
In the Emu, Vol. II., p. 17, 1903, A. G. Campbell recorded Glossopsittacus 
concinnus as a visitor to North Eastern Victoria, while in the same volume 
H. E. Hill observed, regarding the Geelong and Otway districts : “ Plentiful 
enough at times in all parts, especially in the fruit season, but never in such 
numbers as in the north of the colony.” 
In Vol. IV., Fred. P. Godfrey wrote : “ On 9th October, 1904, in the 
Bacchus Marsh district, I chopped out a nest of the Musk Lorikeet ( Glossop - 
sittacus concinnus) which, much to my disappointment, contained a young 
bird. Having enlarged the nesting-hole to such an extent with a tomahawk, 
I decided to take the bird, which had only a few feathers. For the first few 
days after being brought to Melbourne it was fed on honey diluted in water, 
injected down its throat with a small glass syringe. The little thing soon 
learnt to feed itself from a small saucer, and was no trouble to rear. Nothing 
delights it more than to be handled and played with ; its antics on the swing 
are most amusing. It is now in full plumage, the rusty marking just appear- 
ing on the nape and back. Occasionally it says a few words, learnt from a 
Rosella Parrakeet whose cage hangs near. The breeding-season in Victoria 
appears to be far advanced in October, as two or three nests found by our 
party on the same occasion contained fairly well-grown young, always two in 
number. These birds were very numerous in the district, and were in 
company with G. pusillus. Lately they are very numerous round Melbourne, 
having been seen in the parks, gardens, etc., feeding from the flowering gums. 
The favourite nest-site seems to be about 18 inches from the opening down the 
main trunk of a green tree in open forest. The birds quickly betray their nest 
by harsh screeching, and only have to be watched for a few minutes in order 
to detect the nest.” 
Littler noted in Emu, Vol. II., p. 170, 1903 : “ Large flocks are in the 
habit of visiting the district (Launceston, Tasmania).” 
Isaac Batey (Emu, VII., p. 12, 1907) of the Drouin District, Victoria, 
noted : “ Musky Lorikeet (Glossopsittacus concinnus). Always on the scene 
VOL. VL 
49 
