This bird inhabits the vast plains of the interior of New South Wales.
It is one of the handsomest, not only of the Australian Parrots, but
takes foremost place among the most gorgeously dressed members of the
Parrot family that are to be met with in any part of the world. It
is about eleven or twelve inches in length. The female cannot with
certainty be distinguished from her mate, but is usually a very little
smaller. The Lory seldom descends to the ground, but passes the greater
part of its life among the gum trees upon the pollen and nectar on which
it mainly subsists. In times of scarcity, however, it will also eat
grass seeds, as well as insects, for want of which it is said, it often
dies prematurely when in captivity.
Dr. Russ mentions that a pair obtained from a London dealer in 1870 for
fifty dollars were the first of these birds imported, but the London
Zoological Society had secured some of them two years before.
Despite his beauty, the Blue Mountain Lory is not a desirable bird to
keep, as he requires great care. A female which survived six years in an
aviary, laying several eggs, though kept singly, was fed on canary seed,
maize, a little sugar, raw beef and carrots. W. Gedney seems to have
been peculiarly happy in his specimens, remarking, "But for the terribly
sudden death which so often overtakes these birds, they would be the
most charming feathered pets that a lady could possess, having neither
the power nor inclination to bite savagely." The same writer's
recommendation to feed this Lory exclusively upon soft food, in which
honey forms a great part, probably accounts for his advice to those
"whose susceptible natures would be shocked" by the sudden death of
their favorite, not to become the owner of a Blue Mountain Lory.
Like all the parrot family these Lories breed in hollow boughs, where
the female deposits from three to four white eggs, upon which she sits
for twenty-one days. The young from the first resemble their parents
closely, but are a trifle less brilliantly colored.
They are very active and graceful, but have an abominable shriek. The
noise is said to be nearly as disagreeable as the plumage is beautiful.
They are very quarrelsome and have to be kept apart from the other
parrots, which they will kill. Other species of birds however, are not
disturbed by them. It is a sort of family animosity. They have been bred
in captivity.
The feathers of the head and neck are long and very narrow and lie
closely together; the claws are strong and hooked, indicating their tree
climbing habits. Their incessant activity and amusing ways make these
birds always interesting to watch.