Ornithology.-Lore Birds.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3644, 15 April 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

Ornithology.-Lore Birds.

[From "The World."]

Our. Very Own Ornithologist has nuulo a special stmlyof the Lovo Birds' (Amantes), and these are his notes on the females of this remarkable group:

Now these arc the most difficult wild fowl to discourse of, because of their waywardness and exceeding cunniug ; for they BO at times vastly entertaining, because of their odd tumblings ami varieties of High. At times they are gloomy, and mope in corners ;at times exceedingly blithe; and at times, especially when mot with iv (locks in the Country-house tree, the Amantcs arc an intolerable nuisance, The principal varieties are —

The Young Unenoaoed l>ii!i> on

Flapbkk fSepUmdaxiiiia mavis),

She i.s slight, light, and bright, fond of the society of tho Cousin-Bird, chatters a good deal at feeding-time. Is addicted to meaningless interrogations, round games, bonbons, fragments of the slang-berry, anil StHni-pluckoil Undergraduate-Birds, upon which she feeds voraciously.

She is frequently found chirruping with others ot her tribe at the pluming or " L'omo-to-itiy ■ room-aiid brush-your-hair " hour. Can be developed. A variety of the unengaged family is sometimes met with in very shallow Kayswater, It is called the "Mature Moorhen" (Virgo antiqna), aim ia recognisable by its two quaint Hide-combs, its nest full ot old lott-rs, and tin excellent terms upon which it lives with the cats of the district.

The Engaoed-Bird on Fiancee

( Expeclans), Generally .seen Hitting mysteriously rouud the troussetiu-trco, (n tho evening prefers sitting out on a branch and watching tho Flappers; has been known to smile 011 the Best-Man Bird and cause much irritation thereby. As a rule feeds with one claw concealed, and is invariably lost at a picnic, much to the nmusement of the Matron-Birds and envy of tho Flappers. The tlcsh is white and soft.

TilK Old-Biud (JUtouea sapiens).

She has ad odd smart way of snapping up the repartee-beetle, and is known as the "Doocid-cleva," "Get-tho-bost-of-you." As a rule knows a great deal more than la good for her. This bird is frequently fed by the Warrior-Bird, with a spicy kiud of berry, chielly found 111 France, called the " riskce-storce." She generally carries under her wing a peculiar fungus— the pull-ball -with winch she smooths her beak. She can imitate the cry of the Flapper, and as Plutinus justly remarks, " Furasmuch as she hath been frcqucaily ensnared, she knowcth all the Fowler's craft." Shois not so tender as the Exnechms, but very divorting for all that, and has been observed to be very attentive and politu to the Middle-aged Single Goldtincti, whose nest she frequently warms for him.

The BiswAitE-OF-IlEit (Capriciosa).

This marvellous fowl hath given much delight and done a vast deal of mischief. She is passionate, cruel, and cor-nivorous or heart-devouring, and may fowlers have perished in attempting to capture her. The chii f lures uadi in her pursuit are the Diamond-Starling, the Bangc-Bc"tle, the Dry Widow or Veuve Clicqttet Sec, Boxami-^ upper-Caterpillar, and the Devotion grub. This last she devours greedily, frequently offering the Sub-Snail in return. as a rule she folk a prey to any creaturo that is picturesque, interesting, new, and extravagant, When captured she is for a a time very winsome and entertaining, but after some months will peck at the bars of her cage and exhibit signs of fretfulness. At this time the only food she will eat is new larva When snaicd by the lovenoose she is a rare delicacy, She. is provoking and petulant as a rule. She is often nice, sometimes a perfect starling or darling, generally agreeable, and always to be avoided by the Peacc-of-Mind Bird.

The True Love-Bikd (Fidelis). This bird is now totally extinct; but the following illustrations will convey some idea of what her habits probably were at the time that Dodos were met with in Piccadilly. . , , , [We venture to disagree with our author s sweeping assertion concerning the Fidelis, and we regret we cannot reproduce his very graphic and interesting illustrations.]