THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 9I 



capacity, and their fame as talkers is very ancient ; 

 but they do not seem to be mimics in a wild state, 

 curiously enough. 



Disposition and Habits. — Their intelligence is well- 

 known, as also their malice and spitefulness ; but 

 in spite of the latter quality they are usually 

 social. They differ from most perching birds in 

 not bathing in many cases, though enjoying 

 rain. 



Economic Qualities. — They are often extremely 

 destructive to grain and fruit crops ; but they 

 do some good by devouring grubs and seeds of 

 weeds. Many are eaten locally, and there is, of 

 course, a great demand for them as cage-birds. 



Captivity. — For ages Parrots have been most familiar 

 cage-birds, as none thrive better in this condition ; 

 many have bred, especially the small long-tailed 

 " Parrakeets," some of which propagate regularly, 

 but only one, the Budgerigar {Melopsittacus 

 undiilatus) can be called completely domesticated. 



Distribution and Important Species. — Parrots, of 

 which there are about five hundred species, are 

 found all round the world, chiefly in warm climates, 

 and especially in tropica] America, whence come 

 the Macaws {Ara) and Amazons (Chrysotis), and in 

 the Australian region, to which last the brush- 

 tongued Lories (Loriince) and the crested Cockatoos 

 (CacatuincB) are confined. A few range into 

 temperate climates, in New Zealand, North 

 America, and southern South America. They are 

 hardly ever migratory, and some are much localized ; 

 indeed, several have become extinct in modern 

 times. 



Of the typical Parrots, the familiar Grey Parrot 

 [PsiUacus erithacus) is a common and widely- 

 ranging species in Equatorial Africa ; but Africa, 

 as a whole, has but few species of Parrots, and 



