•IIIK PARROTS. 337 



There is a striking analogy between the Scansoi-ial tribe of birds, and more especially 

 the great family of parrots, and the monkeys among the ^lanmialia. It does not 

 depend, however, in so great a degree as is sometimes imagined, on the imitative talents 

 for which these tribes of animals have been celebrated from the earliest times ; for in the 

 one case it is the voice, and in the other it is the actions of man, that have been made the 

 subjects of imitation. The analogy will be peculiarly apparent if du3 consideration be 

 given to the peculiar mode of the existence of these creatui'es ; to the nature of their 

 food ; to the situations which they frequent ; and to the occupations which they pursue. 

 The organisation of both renders them peculiarly the inhabitants of trees. 



It is evident, for instance, that their geographical distribution is nearly the same, ex- 

 tending, in both cases, throughout the whole of the torrid zone, and but little beyond its 

 limits. Nor is it less obvious that both tribes are possessed of a higher share of docility and 

 intelligence than is found in any other family of the classes to which they resjjectively belong. 



One of the most important characters, as affecting their mode of life, is that which is 

 derived from the structure of their feet. In the monkeys these organs are essentially 

 fitted for climbing from branch to branch and leaping from tree to tree — acts which are 

 performed with the greatest agility ; while their i^rogression on the surface of the ground 

 is generally a\\-kft'ard and constrained. In like manner, the far greater number of 

 parrots are incapable of treading the earth with ease, while the peculiar disposition of 

 their toes and the strong curvation of their claws enable them to grasp, with a firmness 

 miequalled among birds, the branches on which they perch, and, consequentlj', to climb 

 with singular dexterity. Occasionally they derive considerable assistance from their 

 bills, by means of which they not unfrequently suspend themselves from the branches, 

 or support themselves during their descent from one to another. This is peculiarly the 

 case with the American groups ; and the prehensile tails of many American monkeys 

 afford a similar support, enabling them to swing from branch to branch, almost without 

 the assistance of their hands. 



Both parroiS and monkeys derive the principal part of their subsistence from the trees 

 which they inhabit, vegetable food being the most adapted to their organisation, and 

 fruits being generally preferred by them to any other kind of nutriment. Stone-fruits 

 or nuts are especially acceptable, and they display no little dexterity in stripping off the 

 outer coTerings to arrive at the kernels, of which they are excessively fond. They both 

 attack the cultivated fruits of the plantation in numerous bauds, and commit much 

 wanton devastation in the progress of their pillage, frequently destroying ten times as 

 much as they devour. In eating, too, the parrot, like the monkey, often carries its food 

 to its mouth by means of its foot, which is thus made to serve" the purpose of a hand. 

 The tallest trees of the forest form their place of refuge, and on these both the one and 

 the other assemble in considerable numbers, the noisy chattering and antic gestures of 

 the monkeys being fully equalled bj- the hoarse cries and affected postures of the parrots. 

 And thus we see that there are vra-ious respects in which the portion of the " Feathered 

 Tribes" now under consideration resemble the Quadrumana. 



As the wings of the parrots are generally .short, and their bodies bulk}-, they have 

 some difficulty in rising to a certain point of elevation ; but that once attained, they fly 

 very well, and often with much rapidity, and through a considerable extent of space. 

 The majorit}' confine themselves to lofty and thickly-tufted woods, frequently on the 

 borders of cultivatel lands, the productions of which they plunder and destroy. Their 

 ordinary mode of flight is from one branch to another ; and it frequently happens that 

 they will not fly continuously, except when pursued. Many of them emigrate according 

 to the season, and, in particular, the Carolina parrots. Such travel away for some 

 hundreds of leagues, differing in this respect from the habits of others ; but they are 

 comparatively few in number. The difficulty of flight with many is the cause of their 



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