THE TYPICAL PARROTS. 157 
provide for; as most people must have observed, they 
crack all sorts of grain before eating it, and generally eat 
very slowly, like the Finches. No species of Parrot hasas 
yet been thoroughly domesticated, though several are 
bred ; but no one, however, he and she may object to 
keeping birds captive, need feel qualms of conscience 
about Parrots, for they are the most destructive of all 
birds to field and garden crops, and would have to be killed 
down if not caught for caging. The Parrots are divided 
into several families, examples of three of which are con- 
stantly to be had in India. 
THE TYPICAL PARROTS. 
The Typical Parrots form the largest family, such species 
as the well-known Grey Parrot of India, the Amazons and 
Macaws of America, and all our Indian Parrots, belonging 
to it. The small long-tailed kinds are called Parakeets 
or Parroquets. The Parrots of this family are hardly 
ever crested, nor do they have a brush tongue. They 
feed both on fruit and grain, and should only receive such 
food in captivity, sop or other soft food being avoided. 
THe Common InpiIAN oR ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET 
(Paleornis torquatus). This well-known bird, called 
Lybar Tota in Hindustani, and Tiya in Bengali, hardly 
needs description, but it may be characterized briefly. 
It is about sixteen inches long, about ten of which belong 
to the tail ; in colour it is green with a red bill and white 
eyes. The male has a black throat, the black running a 
little way on each side to join a rose-pink collar which 
extends round the back of the neck. 
