Psittacus Swainsoni, Jard. et Slb.

Blue Mountain Parrot, Swainsons Lorikeet, Blue-bellied Lorikeet (Ger., Iori von den blauen Bergen, Gebirgslori, Blaubauchi-ger Keilschwanzlori falschlich blauer Gebirgslori, Pflaumen-kopfsittich (/); Fr., Perruche Lori de Swainson, Perruche a bonche d 'or; Dut., Swainson's Loeri) - Importation - Description - Hardiness - Breeding - Treatment - Talking Powers.

The Blue Mountain Lory affords a striking example of the importance to which the love of birds, and the pursuit and results of their breeding, may attain, not only as a matter of science, but also of practical business. As already mentioned elsewhere, the whole account of the importation and breeding of this bird is very interesting. First described and drawn by Buffon in 1783, and named by Gmelin, it was at that early date kept in captivity, and was imported into Europe alive by Joseph Banks in 1771. It is probable that since that time it has been brought over occasionally. A couple were sent to the Zoological Gardens in London in 1868; but the regular importation only dates from the year 1870, when it was commenced by the wholesale dealer, Charles Jamrach, of London.

The Blue Mountain Lory is of a purplish-blue on the head and throat; the back of the head has a faint brownish tinge; a broad yellowish-green band appears on the back of the neck; all the upper part of the body is of a dark grass green; the upper part of the back is more or less dappled with red and yellow (each feather having a red or yellow transverse spot); the quills are green on the outer web, and black on the inner; blackish grey on the reverse side, with a broad light yellow transverse band; the shoulders and under coverts of the wing vermilion; the bend of the wing green; the edge of the wing marked as if covered with red and yellow scales; the tail feathers green, yellow on the inner web; on the reverse side a dull brownish yellow, the inner webs light yellow; the breast and neck vermilion; the sides of the breast yellow; the belly dark blue; the thighs, the hinder part of the body, and the under coverts of the tail, red, dappled with yellow and green; the beak is a brilliant red; the skin on the nose bluish, inclining to dark brown; the eyes orange, inclining to amethystine red; a red brown circle round the eye; the feet brownish-grey; claws blackish. It is fully the size of a jackdaw (length, 13in. to 13 3/4in.; wings, 5 1/8in. to 5 7/8in.; tail, 4 3/4 in. to 5 5/8 in. It has lately been proved to be indigenous throughout the whole of Australia and Tasmania.

When Charles Jamrach imported the first couple, and sold them to Mr. E. Linden of Radolfzell for ten guineas, he saw, as an experienced dealer, that this species of bird must be hardy, because it lives chiefly on seed; and, in truth, with the exception of a few failures at first, the supposition has proved correct. This splendid bird is more and more frequently imported, can be easily managed, and, after a short time, bred with good results. It would be too wide a digression to enter upon the breeding more particularly. Mr. A. Heublein, sculptor, of Coburg, was, in 1873, the first to make the attempt; and then several other bird fanciers reared Blue Mountain Lories, Mr. K. Petermann, merchant, of Rostock, having even bred them to the third generation.

Its splendid colours, its uncommon lively, charmingly droll manner, no less than its aptitude for breeding, have gained for the Blue Mountain Lory numerous friends in an exceedingly short time, and from amateurs and breeders everywhere obtained for it a cordial welcome. In fact, one can scarcely imagine more beautiful and charming birds than a pair of these lories as described by Dr. Frenzel and Mr. Scheuba, as they hop sideways in a circle, with droll gestures, nodding their heads expressively, then rolling over and wrestling, shaking hands, and nibbling one's finger without really biting, etc. They would be much greater favourites if they did not so often utter their distracting piercing cry, which can only with difficulty be silenced. Although strong and hardy, the Blue Mountain Lory must be carefully protected from dangerous influences; thus, it must never be kept in too hot a room, and any sudden change of diet must be strictly avoided. However, as I said before, with proper treatment it lives, and is healthy for many years in captivity.

Its food consists of seeds, especially canary seed, oats, and a little hemp, with some moistened and well-squeezed-out egg-bread, or stale wheaten bread; instead of the latter, cake or biscuit may sometimes be given. It is essentially necessary that good sweet fruit should be given daily. Great caution is needed in giving green food; but, on the other hand, twigs for gnawing may always be supplied.

According to our present knowledge, the Lory of the Blue Mountains will always be of great value as an ornamental bird, and for breeding purposes, but, in spite of this, it could not find a place in this work if it had not been proved beyond doubt to be gifted with speech. The first announcement of this fact, however, was not only met with head-shaking and surprise, but in several instances with positive disbelief, for throughout the whole family of Sharp-tailed Lories not one single speaker had hitherto been known. To Mr. K. Petermann, as already stated, we not only owe the breeding of this species, through several generations, but also the first announcement of their talent for speech. In the great bird show of the Ornis Society in Berlin, in 1879, there was a young lory belonging to the above-named breeder, which was healthy, beautiful in plumage, and exceedingly tame, imitated the note of the hawfinch, whistled several calls, and pronounced pretty clearly, or at least so that it could be understood, the name of his mistress, "Bertha," the eldest daughter of Mr. Petermann. Next we were told of a Blue Mountain Lory, which was gifted with a talent for speech, belonging to Dr. Frenzel, metallurgical chemist, of Freiburg. Then Mr. E. Rudiger, of Darmstadt, informed us that a bird of this species in his possession said the words "Come here," and "Get away with you! ' Hence we may assume that, sooner or later, we shall witness a great advance in this species. When we consider that the Blue Mountain Lory, if kept singly and managed properly, not only belongs to the speaking parrots, and is one of the most beautiful and gentle of birds, but also becomes uncommonly tame and affectionate, we may, indeed, expect that it will attain great importance in the future, both as an ornamental and breeding bird as well as a speaker.

Anyone wishing to tame it, and teach it to speak, should attempt to obtain one bred in this country and while still very young, for these prove much more manageable and teachable than those imported when old, while those, again, which have had mates are exceptionally hard to train after separation.