THE WEDGE-TAILED PABRAKEETS. 211 



CHAP. LXXXVIIL— THE CONURES, OR WEDQE-TAILED 

 PARRAKEETS. 



Conurus, Khl. 



Distinguishing Marks — Habitat — Domestic Character. 



This group, whicli embraces the greatest number of species, 

 may be distinguished by the following marks : A powerful beak, 

 much bent, as deep as it is long, with a shallow groove on the 

 lightly furrowed obtuse ridge, a distinct indentation, broad but 

 slightly curved socket-edge, the lower mandible truncated at 

 the anterior end, and with slightly curved cutting edges ; the 

 tongue is thick, fleshy, and smooth ; eye cere naked ; the lores 

 feathered ; the nostrils small, round, set in the narrow cere, 

 which is rarely covered with feathers; pointed wings, longer 

 than the tail ; the quills rounded off to a point at the end ; the 

 tail is long, ending in the shape of a wedge, each feather 

 decreasing in width symmetrically towards the end, and ter- 

 minating in a rounded point ; the feet are powerful, with strong 

 nails ; the plumage is usually hard, and the form compressed. 

 It is about the size of a thrush or jackdaw. In all Conures the 

 plumage of both sexes is alike. 



They have their home in South America, especially Brazil, i.e., 

 they extend from Chili as far as South Mexico. Some are found 

 exclusively in the West Indies, and only one species is a native 

 of North America. The hot, damp lowlands along the Amazon 

 River, which are densely covered with primeval forest, are their 

 principal habitation. They live gregariously in more or less 

 numerous flocks, consisting, even in fhe breeding season, of 

 several species. The nest is built, as in the case of other 

 parrots, in a hole in a tree, and one species builds in the holes 

 of rocks. They are said to lay two or three eggs, but most 

 species probably lay more. Being tree birds, the Conures fly 

 very well and climb rapidly, though rather unskilfully, and on the 

 ground walk awkwardly. Many, or probably all, species migrate 

 from time to time, or wander as birds of passage. We may, 

 without hesitation, assume their food to consist chiefly of seeds, 

 and, in a lesser degree, of fruits and other vegetable substances. 

 They cause immense damage to the crops, inasmuch as, like 

 all parrots, they destroy far more than they consume. For this 

 reason, and also because their flesh is savoury, they are hotly 



p 2 



