73 



HISTORY OF THE PARROTS, 



OR 



FAMILY- ^PSiTTACID,. 



x^Qr ^ 



IN presenting to our readers a volume containing 

 the natural history of the Parrots, or family Psitta- 

 cidce, we have to direct their attention to an assem- 

 blage of birds, not less remarkable for the peculiarity 

 of their form, the gay, varied, and in many instances, 

 splendid plumage in which they are attired, than for 

 the intelligence and docility so many evince in a state 

 of captivity or domestication, and the peculiar faci- 

 lity possessed by several species of imitating the in- 

 tonations of the human voice, and learning by rote 

 words, and even sentences, which they remember 

 and repeat with clearness and precision ; a faculty, 

 it may be remarked, confined to these birds, and to 

 some few of the SturnidcB and Corvida members of 

 the Conirostral Tribe, another primary division of 

 the Typical Order Insessores. 



