152 N. Wharton-Tigar—Notes from the London Zoo


three examples of the Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitticus concinnus),

Australia, lovely, but extremely delicate and hard to keep.


Here also are more of the true Lories—the Blue-streaked (Eos

reticulata, from Tenimber Islands), the Purple-capped (Domicella

domicella), Ceram, the White-rumped Lory [Eos fuscata), New Guinea,

and a quaint example of the Jobi Lory (Domicella lory jobiensis).

This poor bird was evidently badly reared ; at one time it was covered

with new quills, which refused to open, and was then known in the

Parrot House as the Porcupine Lory ! The quills have now made

some attempt to open the wrong way round !


Now we come to the two rarest and most intriguing varieties in

the collection. The White-throated Lory (Coriphilus taitranus),

Society Isles, a pair of these ; words fail me in giving an account

of the charm of these birds. Mr. Boland Green recently did a beautiful

sketch of this and the following species, so you all know what they

look like. The Blue Lories are so tame and friendly, so engaging, one longs

to possess them. They have been placed in a very large aviary cage

and are toying with the idea of going to nest. The Ruby Lory (Vinia

kuhli), Washington and Panning Islands, too lovely, wine red ; also

tame, and the rarest Lory in the collection.


A sad little story is connected with the acquisition by the Zoo of

the two last-named species : a great lady, beautiful and rich, cruising

the Pacific in her yacht, collected these little treasures and brought

them home in triumph. On arriving in this country she learned to her

consternation that they must be confiscated ; she had no permit

to import Parrots—naturally, she had never heard of the Parrot ban.


Mr. Seth-Smith, the ever kind, was called in, and said her lovely

birds could be deposited at the Zoo, and when the ban is lifted, her

Lories will be returned to her. Can nothing be done to speed up the

day, and relieve her anguish, and that of many others, deprived of

the joy of possessing one of the best friends a man or woman can

possess ?



