Sydney Porter—Notes on Birds of Fiji



131



this is a peculiarity of all the Fijian Parrakeets, but is especially

noticeable in this species. At the back of the neck, where the red meets

the green of the back, is a very thin half-collar of intense pale blue.

In flight, especially when seen from below, the bird appears quite black,

hence it is known as the “ Black Parrot of Ngau ”.


The island of Ngau lies about fifty miles to the west of Viti Levu,

and is only a few square miles in extent—forty or fifty at the very most.

I was unable to visit it, but gathered from the natives that it is very

similar to Kandavu but smaller, inhabited only by Fijians, and covered

with virgin forest. There is every indication that, with the stopping

of the trade in Parrakeets and the birds being unmolested by the natives

and the island being free from the mongoose, the Parrakeet will easily

hold its own.


The Fijian Ruffed Lory (Calliptilus solitarius)


This exceedingly beautiful and very distinctive Lory (to my mind

the loveliest and most engaging of the whole Parrot tribe, which is

saying a great deal, but no doubt those who have kept this loveliest

of lovely birds will agree with me) is confined to several of the islands of

the Fiji group, where it is fairly abundant. Once one is away in the bush

its shrill cries are sure to be heard, and small parties seen as they pass

with the most rapid flight from the top of one flowering tree to another.


Why this bird should be labelled with such a foolish title as

“ solitarius ” is beyond my comprehension. It is never seen singly and

would be the last bird in the world to enjoy a solitary existence. The

Kula, as he is called in Fiji, has many friends : he is never shot except

by the so-called ornithological explorers ; his nest is too high up for

the mongoose, and he is never caught by the natives. The only time

the bird is taken is upon the very rare occasions when a native finds

its nest; he then takes the young to hand-rear and if he is success¬

ful he usually sells them to a European.


I have never heard of an Indian owning one ; I am afraid that they

would be too much trouble to feed, their delicate digestions would not

stand the universal Parrot food of Fiji—hard maize. And so they are

very seldom kept in captivity, even in their own country, for any length

of time, most birds dying of fits. When in New Zealand I found that there



