THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series.~V ol. I.—No. 5 .—All rights reserved. MAY, 1936.



THE RUBY LORY (Vint kuhli)


By J. Delacour


:Samoa and the neighbouring islands can boast of the miniature

Lories of the genus Vini, as small and pretty, in a different way, as

those of the Tahiti group. More to the north, Washington and Fanning

Islands are the home of a lovely species of the same genus depicted

<on the opposite plate. Our readers can easily judge of its bright

.colouring and graceful shape. But only those who have seen the

specimen now in the possession of the London Zoo can have an idea

of its delightful ways. Tame and gentle, it plays like a kitten ; it is

indeed the most wonderful pet that I ever saw.


It is now a very rare bird in its native islands, and it is a wonder

that we could ever see one alive in London. It does not seem to be

delicate if well fed, and thrives well on the usual Lory food of milk,

honey, and fruit.


According to Mivart, some years ago, a good many Ruby Lories

were exported to the more southernly islands by the natives who came

•every year to gather coco-nuts. They used to catch them in nooses after

they had been attracted by a tame call-bird. “ When caged aboard ship,

they exhibited as pretty a picture of love as one can imagine. They

,sat billing and smoothing each other’s feathers for hours, and as night

.came on two would get together and sleep with heads turned towards


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