186 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



they are much esteemed in zoological gardens and natural 

 history collections. 



The following may be given as their distinguishing marks : 

 Beak very large and strong ; upper mandible much bent down- 

 wards, with a long overhanging point, and distinct indentation : 

 the lower mandible deeper, with broad but slightly curved 

 socket edge, abrupt point ; the ridge is flat, and has not a 

 sharp edge ; the tongue is thick, somewhat larger in its an- 

 terior part, lower down fleshy, with fine longitudinal furrows 

 on the upper side, between which, upon the projecting ridges, 

 grow little blunt papillae in rows, at the back four pairs of warts 

 of unequal sizes, and a slightly notched edge slanting outwards 

 in an oblique direction. The nostrils are round, set in the 

 bare cere, the latter being covered only in some specimens 

 with little feathers ; the cheeks, with the region round the eye, 

 and near the lower mandible, are unfeathered, but some have 

 rows of little feathers under the eye ; the wings are long and 

 pointed ; the tail long, sharp, cuneiform ; the feathers gradu- 

 ated, each being rounded at the tip ; the feet powerful ; legs 

 short and thick ; claws large and much bent ; the plumage 

 firm and hard, without the powdery down ; shape thickset, but 

 much larger in appearance (owing to the long tail) than it in 

 reality is ; size, varying from that of a pigeon to a domestic 

 fowl. 



They are natives only of America, where they are found from 

 the North of Mexico as far as South Brazil and Paraguay. The 

 dense primeval forest is their abode, especially in the lowlands 

 along the streams and rivers, but also in the mountains to an 

 elevation of nearly 12,000ft. They live in couples, and after the 

 nesting season in families ; many assemble from time to time, 

 sometimes several species together, in large flocks. In their 

 flight they cleave the air rapidly, but, in the case of the larger 

 species, heavily ; their gait on the ground is awkward, in a side- 

 long direction ; but, on the other hand, they climb rapidly and 

 nimbly in the branches. All kinds of tree fruits and seeds, 

 especially palm nuts, hard as stones, which they break with 

 their powerful beaks, form their food. They sometimes fly to 

 great distances, and attack the crops of the settlers with de- 

 structive effect. They are eagerly pursued, as well on account 

 of the damage they do as for their plumage and the food 

 furnished by their flesh, which, however, is of no great delicacy. 

 For this reason they have become exceedingly sly, and have 



