34 The Marquess of Tavistock—Breeding of the Tahiti Blue Lory


THE BREEDING OF THE TAHITI BLUE LORY


(Coriphilus peruvianus)


By The Marquess of Tavistock


The successful breeding of this rare, lovely, and most interesting

little bird is not only the greatest triumph of my avicultural career

(albeit the lion’s share of the credit belongs to my former aviary

attendant, Mr. J. Yealland !) but is also, in many ways, the most

unexpected.


In the first place, I never expected to see Blue Lories alive at all,

as, when I was preparing supplementary work for the second edition

of my book on Parrots, I found that the skins of both species of

Coriphilus had been relegated to the department of the Natural

History Museum where extinct birds are kept, as the authorities at that

time believed that they had probably joined the ranks of the Dodo.


Even if the Coriphilus were still in existence, it seemed in the

highest degree improbable that they would ever be introduced to

aviculture, as their habitat lies far from the sphere of operations even

of our most enterprising collectors.


When, as related elsewhere, through the kindness of Mr. Guild,

the birds did unexpectedly make their appearance, further difficulties

arose with regard to correct feeding, and I was absolutely in despair

when, after many experiments, Mr. Yealland at last discovered the

food that really suits them—Dr. Allison’s, prepared as for other

Lories, but then diluted with its own volume of water ; together with

apple, pear, grapes, and a few meal-worms. Of these latter, although

probably quite an unnatural diet, the Peruvianus have become ex¬

ceedingly fond, although the Goupil’s or Ultramarine Lories rather

unfortunately will not touch them.


Even when the problem of diet had been solved, the chances of

breeding appeared almost as remote as ever. Even the larger and

commoner Lories are not the easiest of their tribe to raise, and I had

a presentiment, fortunately unfulfilled, that, if they laid, the eggs

would certainly prove infertile, as has been the case with every species

of Hanging Parrot which has nested in my aviaries.


Furthermore, owing to the presumed delicacy of the birds, although



