Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 92



Large flocks of these resplendent Lorys enliven the woods of New Holland, clinging to the Eucalypti trees, and sucking the honey from the blossoms by their brush-shaped tongue. Mr. Caley, whose notes we now follow, says it a bird remarkable for docility and attachment to some people, although a perfect scold to others. When young they are caught by the natives, but from the loss of their favourite food seldom survive in confinement. An individual, kept by Mr. Caley, on being shewn the coloured drawing of a native plant, tried to suck the flowers, and it even made the same attempt with a piece of cotton furniture. Its scientific history we have already given elsewhere.

We have received more than usual pleasure at seeing our name affixed to this charming bird, and in clearing up its history. (Ill. of Orn. vol. 3. p. iii.) As a child we well remember our unwearied delight at seeing its figure in White's Voyage. As a collector we have preserved a series of nearly twenty specimens, and as a naturalist our name is no longer excluded from the Ornithological Nomenclature of New Holland. It is indeed somewhat curious, that while we were giving information to one of the writers in the ''Lin. Trans''. upon the subjects of his paper, he should have studiously witheld from us the only public acknowledgement, for such assistance, it was in his power to make.