684 PAMPRODACTYL^— PARROT 



witli the Pterygoids, and rest by articulating facets on the ventral 

 side of the sphenoidal rostrum of the Skull. They have consider- 

 able taxonomic importance. 



PAMPRODACTYL^, Dr. Murie's name {Ms, 1873, p. 190, 

 note) for the group consisting of the Coliidx (Mouse-bird). 



PANCREAS, a conglomeration of glands, forming one or more 

 lobes, and placed between the two branches of the duodenal loop 

 (Digestive System, pages 141-143). Its secretion, the Pancreatic 

 Juice, contains a ferment important for digestion and enters the 

 duodenum through from one to three short ducts, which in most 

 birds open into its ascending branch between the hepato-enteric and 

 cystico-enteric ducts. The size and position of the Pancreas are 

 very variable and of little general interest. 



PAEADISE-BIRD, see Bird-of-Paradise; -DUCK, see Sheld- 



DRAKE. 



PARAKEET, variously spelt, see Parrot. 



PARAPTERON, Sundevall's name for the row or rows of 

 feathers commonly known as upper wing-coverts. 



PARDALOTE, see Diamond-bird. 



PARRA, see Jacana. 



PARROT, according to Prof. Skeat {Etym. Did. p. 422), from 

 the French Perrot or Pierrot, a proper name and the diminutive of 

 Pierre,'^ the name given generally to a large and very natural group 

 of Birds, which for more than a score of centuries have attracted 

 attention, not only from their gaudy plumage, but, at first and 

 chiefly it would seem, from the readiness with which many of them 

 learn to imitate the sounds they hear, repeating the words and even 

 phrases of human speech with a fidelity that is often astonishing. 

 It is said that no representation of any Parrot appears in Egyptian 

 art, nor does any reference to a -bird of the kind occur in the Bible, 

 Avhence it has been concluded that neither the painters nor the writers 



1 "Parakeet" (in Shakespear, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 3, 88, "Paraquito") is said 

 liy the same authority to be from the Spanish Periquito or Pcrroqueto, a small 

 Parrot, diminutive of Pcrico, a Parrot, which again may be a diminutive from 

 Pedro, the proper name. Parakeet (spelt in various ways in English) is usually 

 applied to the smaller kinds of PaiTots, especially those which have long tails, 

 not as Perroquet in French, which is used as a general term for all Parrots, 

 Perruche, or sometimes Pcrridie, being the ordinary name for what we call 

 Parakeet. The old English "Popinjay" and the old French Papegaut have 

 almost passed out of use, but the German Papagci and Italian Papagaio still 

 continue in vogue. Some trace these names to the Arabic BabagJid ; but others 

 think that word a corruj)tion of the Spanish Papagayo. The Anglo-Saxon name 

 of the Parret, a river in Somerset, is Pedreda or Pedrida, which at first sight looks 

 as if it had to do with the proper name, Petrus ; but Prof. Skeat believes there is 

 no connexion between them — the latter portion of the word being rid, a stream. 



