550 



ZOOLOGY. 



are the parrots (Pslttaci). The tongue is large, soft, and 

 remarkably mobile, as the muscles at the base are more dis- 

 tinctly developed than in other birds, and the lower larynx 

 is complicated with three pairs of muscles ; hence these 

 birds are wonderful mimickers of the human voice, imi- 

 tating the laughter or crying of babies, and repeating brief 

 sentences, while some sing. In proportion to their capacity 

 for talking, parrots command a very 

 high market price. Their toes are in 

 pairs, the bill is cered and very stout, 

 adapted for cracking hard nuts. The- 

 wish-bone is sometimes rudimentary, 

 and the sternum entire, not notched. 

 Parrots are monogamous, like the hawks, 

 and nest in rocks or hollow trees. Our 

 only parrot is the Carolina parroquet 

 (Conurus Carolinensis Kuhl, Fig. 473), 

 which is common in Florida. It for- 

 merly extended to the Great Lakes and 

 to New York, but is nearly exterminated. 

 About three hundred and fifty species 

 are scattered through tropical countries, 

 Australia and South America being es- 

 pecially favored by these gorgeous birds. 

 The ground parrot of New Zealand does 

 not fly, all the others being good fliers. 

 Fig. 474 skuii of Oe- Parrots live to the age of eighty years. 



cinus viridis L., showing m , ,-, . . ? , . ,, 



the asymmetrical position The PicancB, a somewhat miscella- 





neous group of birds, comprising the 

 S woodpeckers, the cuckoos, and allies, 

 SSi. and the swifts and humming-birds, con- 

 nect the preceding groups with the Pas- 

 serine or singing birds. From the latter the Picarice com- 

 monly differ in the form of the sternum, in the less 

 developed vocal apparatus, there being no more than three 

 pairs of separate muscles, so that the birds are not musical ; 

 as well as in the nature of the toes and wing and tail 

 feathers. 



The woodpeckers usually have pointed, stiff tail-feathers, 



