PARROTS. 



357 



now, forty-one species, distributed from the Malay Islands over the South Sea Islands 

 to Australia and Tasmania. From the other genera of the family they differ in 

 having the tail feathers of the same size throughout their length, and longer than the 

 wings, the four middle ones unequal and longer than the rest. The feathers of the 

 back are lancet-shaped, and one feature, which is almost characteristic of the genus, is 

 that all the feathers have a dark centre and a lighter margin. The species are grega- 

 rious, and, while grass seeds form the bulk of their food, they feed also on flowers and 

 various insects. All are brilliantly colored, and are killed extensively for food by the 

 inhabitants of the regions where they occur. Some are frequently kept as cage-birds, 

 the rosella parrot (P. eximius) being an especial favorite. It is active and lively, 



FIG. 162. I'latycerus e.rimius, rosella parakeet. 



and its colors are so bright that we must take space to describe them. The head and 

 back of the neck are scarlet ; below, the chin and neck are white. The feathers of the 

 back are dark green, edged with a beautiful lighter green, and this latter color is also 

 seen in the tail-coverts. The breast is yellow, shading on the belly into green. 



A few small parrots with strong bills, which are higher than long, tails shorter 

 than the wings, a cere like that of the last family, or in the shape of a band surmount- 

 ing the base of the bill, form the family MICKOPSITTACID.E. Their distribution is 

 much like that of the last family, except that Papua seems to be their metropolis. Of 

 their habits but little is known except that their food consists largely of soft fruits, 

 supplemented by insects. 



