66 



PARROTS. 



Psitticina. 



There are a vast number of species of the Parrot, 

 (ornithologists say 200). They all are natives of tro- 

 pical climates, and may be distinguished by their bill 

 being large, and the upper mandible very much hooked. 

 Their tongue is thick, round, and fleshy ; which enables 

 some of them to articulate so distinctly. Their claws 

 differ from most other birds, being directed two forward 

 and two behind. 



These birds, in the wild state, feed principally on 

 fruit, grain, &c. They are very injurious to the orange 

 orchard, and other delicate fruit-trees, which they often 

 destroy by gnawing with their strong beak. In confine- 

 ment, the best food for them is stale white bread, soaked 

 in milk, or merely water; beside which is given a mix- 

 ture of hemp and canary seed, and corn. With this 

 food they do not require any drinking water ; but when 

 fed on seeds and dry cracker, of which they also eat 

 freely, then they require water. A piece of sweet apple 

 may be given them. They are best kept in tin cages, 

 as they generally gnaw the wooden ones. They are 

 all very hardy birds, and will attain to an old age. The 

 Gray Parrot is said to live to a century. 



Those which are mostly kept in cages, are the fol- 

 lowing : 



