PUBPLE-CAPPED LOBY. 
60 * 
TAe Hon. and Rev. F. G. DuttofC s account of the 
Purple-capped Lory (Lorius dotnicella). 
The Purple-capped Lory isj I tWnk, overrated in all the accounts 
I have seen. Bechstein^s account made me most anxious to have one, 
but although I wished and wished for years, I never had the oppor- 
tunity till the spring of 1882. In January of that year, I saw some 
advertised by M. Celle de Sprimont, and bought a pair which reached 
me in February. 
I had long learnt from observation of those at the Zoological Gardens 
to take Bechstein’s remarks cum grano, but I was not prepared to find 
the Purple-cap as untameable as mine were. They were bold birds, 
but nothing would induce them to take anything from my hand. This 
is not to be taken as implying that the Lories are not most caressing 
and attractive in their ways, but it shows that to become so they must 
be brought up by hand. My pair were, I was told, bred in the aviary 
in Belgium, so, no doubt, they had no special taming. Again with 
regard to their talking powers, there is no doubt that some specimens 
are excellent talkers, but the majority do not talk at all. I have seen 
many, and never seen a talking one yet, and I am confirmed in my 
view that generally they do not talk by one of our largest bird-dealers. 
I found my pair very noisy, but not unendurably so. One could not 
very well talk to any one else when they were in the room, but when 
I was alone, I did not mind their cries. They smelt as much as a 
Hawk would have smelt, and often I had to have their cage cleaned 
twice a day. They were bright and active, and very fond of bathing. 
I agree with Dr. Greene and disagree with Bechstein as to their 
hardiness. They are chilly birds, very sensitive to cold, but not delicate. 
Their chilliness, I think, comes from the extreme thinness of their 
plumage. They appear to have very little down compared to the other 
Parrots. They would never eat seed. I was told they had been fed 
on rice, but they never would touch it. So I gave them what I find 
all brush-tongued Parrots like, — bun and fig soaked in boiling water, 
and then mashed into a pulp. Later on in the day they had sponge- 
cake soaked in water. 
As the weather became warmer, I turned them loose. They showed 
to great advantage in the garden. Their movements are a quick, 
hopping step like that of the Barbets. They never liked being separated 
for long, and if one flew to a distance from the other, they were sure 
