THE ECLECTL 127 



The best food for it is seed, with the addition of some biscuit 

 or egg-bread ; sweet fruit, and fresh twigs to gnaw. It appears 

 only singly, and seldom in our markets and exhibitions. 



CHAP. XXXVIII.— THE EOLECTI. 



Distinguishing Marks — ^5 Cage Birds — Management. 



The Eclecti, or, as they are called in Germany, "The Noble 

 Parrots " (Eclectus, Wgl.) are large, handsome birds, closely 

 allied to the Amazons as well as to the Pioninse, though they 

 are distinguished from both' by very distinct marks. These 

 marks are as follows : The beak remarkably large and powerful, 

 rather thick and broad, deeply bent downwards at the base, 

 rounded off at the sides and on the ridge ; the point of the 

 upper mandible projects moderately : near the point there is a 

 faint indentation ; the lower beak is deeper, with a broad socket- 

 edge, the sharp edges towards the end are deeply hollowed out ; 

 the tongue is thick, fleshy, ending abruptly ; the nostrils are 

 small and round, and towards the cere are mostly covered with 

 the feathers ; the circle round the eyes is feathered ; the wings 

 are longer than the tail ; the latter is broad, almost straight, or 

 rounded off ; the feet are strong and short ; the claws are 

 powerful and curved ; the plumage is firm and hard ; the 

 colour green or dark-red ; the body compact and stout. Size, 

 that of a raven, or rather less. 



They are said to inhabit chiefly New Guinea, the Moluccas, 

 and the Philippine Islands, and they probably extend as far as 

 Celebes on the west, to Solomon's Island on the east, and north- 

 wards as far as the Philippines. 



On the whole, we may regard their habits as similiar to those 

 of the other larger parrots, only they are probably quieter, less 

 active, more unwieldy, and more silent in freedom, as they are 

 in the cage. Their food, as far as we know, consists of seeds, 

 nuts, stone-fruits, and other soft, sweet fruits. Where they 

 flourish in great number they effect, like all parrots, a good deal 

 of damage. Though their flight is clumsy, they accomplish 

 long distances quickly. They look awkward both in climbing 

 and walking on the ground. When in the forests they are said 

 to be more frequently solitary than gregarious. 



