550 



ZOOLOGY. 



are the parrots (Psittaci), The tongue is large, soft, and 

 remarkably mobile, as the muscles at the base are more dis- 

 tinctly developed than in other birds, and the lower larynx 

 is complicated with three pairs of muscles ; hence these- 

 birds are wonderful mimickers of the human voice, imi- 

 tating the laughter or crying of babies, and repeating brief 

 sentences, while some sing. In proportion to their capacity 



for talking, parrots command a very 

 high market price. Their toes are in 

 pairs, the bill is cered and very stout, 

 adapted for cracking hard nuts. The 

 wish-bone is sometimes rudimentary, 

 and the sternum entire, not notched. 

 Parrots are monogamous, like the hawks, 

 and nest in rocks or hollow trees. Our 

 only parrot is the Carolina parroquet 

 (Conurus Carolinensis Kuhl, Fig. 473), 

 which is common in Florida. It for- 

 merly extended to the Great Lakes and 

 to New York, but is nearly exterminated. 

 About three hundred and fifty species 

 are scattered through tropical countries, 

 Australia and South America beinsf es- 



o 



pecially favored by these gorgeous birds. 

 The ground parrot of New Zealand does 

 not fly, all the others being good fliers. 

 Pi?,'. 474 -skuii <>f Ge- Parrots live to the age of eighty years. 



cinux viridis L., showing , _. . . . 



the asymmetrical position 1116 rlCClTiCB, a Somewhat miSCelhl- 



of the horns (conma /in- j? i i , n 



c/nce} and llirir .-xteiiMon neOUS gl'OUp OI Ull'ttS, Comprising tllC 



oprallg to thcCTid of the W00( ipeckers, the cuckoos, and allies, 



cavity covered by the inter- onf i |i, p CW i'ff c Orir 1 Inn mi' no- Kivrlo v, 

 maxillary. After Lindnhl. cl1 numming-DUClS, COn- 



nect the preceding groups with the Pas- 

 serine or singing birds. From the latter the Picarice com- 

 monly differ in the form of the sternum, in the less- 

 developed vocal apparatus, there being no more than three 

 pairs of separate muscles, so that the birds are not musical ; 

 as well as in the nature of the toes and wing and tail 

 feathers. 



The woodpeckers usually have pointed, stiff tail-feathers, 



