THE PARROTS AND CUCKOOS 91 



The Amazon Parrot (Plate XVIII. fig. 5) is a species not found 

 north of Brazil. Flying in small flocks, it feeds on oranges, plantains, 

 berries, and other fruit. About forty different kinds of Amazon 

 Parrots are known. 



Australia is the home of the Cockatoos, of which the White 

 Cockatoos are the best-known species. The Gang a Cockatoo (Plate 

 XVIII. fig. 6), a bird frequently seen in confinement, is a com- 

 paratively sober-coloured bird. 



The little Budgerigar, or Grass Parakeet (Plate XVIII. fig. 7), 

 is also an Australian bird, and is rather more of a ground- feeder 

 than most Parrots. It is an extremely common cage-bird, breeding 

 readily in confinement, 



THE CUCKOOS 



The Cuckoos are generally regarded to-day as relatives of the 

 Parrots, and this on account of anatomical characters, rather than 

 any likeness in external form. The only point indeed wherein Parrots 

 and Cuckoos resemble one another, externally, is in the fact that both 

 have the toes arranged so that two are directed backwards and two 

 forwards, the backward toes being the hind-toe and the outer toe. 

 But many other birds belonging to quite different groups have a 

 similar arrangement of the toes, which is known as zygodactyle — 

 meaning, yoke-footed. 



There are a very large number of species of Cuckoos, showing a 

 surprising range both in size and coloration. Some are wholly 

 black, some resplendent in rich metallic emerald-green and copper, 

 while others are clad in more sober hues of grey. 



Africa and India are richest in Cuckoos ; while America is the 

 home of some of the most remarkable members of the order. Of 

 these the most striking are the Chapparal-cock, or Road-runner, of 

 the South-western United States and Mexico ; and the Ani and Guira 

 Cuckoos, the former extending from the Southern United States 

 southwards all over South America, and the latter being confined 

 to South America. 



The Road-runner is a ground-cuckoo — that is to say, it frequents 

 the ground rather than trees and underwood, and consequently has 

 long legs, all the other Cuckoos having conspicuously short legs. 



