432 REPTILES AND BIRDS, 
strong and hooked claws, which make these birds pre-eminently 
climbers, with the exception of one single species—l/a/ycercina 
Vigorsia, which have rather long tarsi, and straight claws, enabling 
them to run with some rapidity ; the Parrots, on the contrary, walk 
with difficulty, and with such trouble that they rarely descend to 
the ground, and only under pressing circumstances. Besides, they 
find all the necessaries of their existence on trees. They are not 
more favoured with regard to their flight; and we can understand 
that it should be so; for, living in thick woods, they only require 
to effect trifling changes of place, such as from one tree to another. 
However, some species, especially the smaller, are capable of a 
more prolonged and effective use of their wings. According to 
Levaillant, some even migrate, and travel hundreds of miles every 
year ; but this is an exception. In general, Parrots are sedentary, 
and remain in the localities where reared. 
Sociable in their dispositions, they assemble in more or less 
numerous bands, and make the forests re-echo with their loud 
cries. ‘To some species it is such an imperative necessity to be 
near each other and live in common, that they have received 
from naturalists the name of “ inseparables.” At breeding-time each 
couple isolate themselves for the purpose of reproduction. The 
male and female evince the greatest attachment to each other. 
The females deposit their eggs in the hollows of trees and in the 
crevices of rocks. ‘The young birds are quite naked when hatched ; 
it is not till the end of three months that they are completely 
covered with feathers. The parent birds wait upon them with the 
greatest solicitude, and become threatening when approached too 
closely by intruders. 
Essentially frugivorous, parrots prefer the fruits of the palm, 
banana, and guava trees. They may be seen perched upon one 
foot, using the other to bear the food to their beaks, and retain it 
there till eaten. After they have extracted the kernel they free 
it from its envelope, and swallow it in particles. They often visit 
plantations, and cause great devastation. In a domestic state they 
are omnivorous. Besides seeds and grain, they eat bread, and 
even raw or cooked meat, and it is with manifest pleasure that they 
receive bones to pick; they are also very partial to sugar. It is 
well known that bitter almonds and parsley act upon them as violent 
poisons, They drink and bathe very frequently ; in summer they 
evince the greatest desire for plunging and splashing in water. 
Captive Parrots will habituate themselves, if permitted, to the use 
of wine; it produces the same effect on them as on the human 
