140 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



miliar with parrots and what they are capable of 

 saying; therefore we shall pass lightly over this 

 group. 



Three families of parrots are suitable as cage- 

 birds. Of them, those termed true parrots, 

 including macaws, parrakeets, amazons, gray 

 parrots, and love-birds, make the aptest pupils. 

 The best pet and most accomplished talker is the 

 gray parrot from Africa, although not greatly 

 superior to the South American amazons in either 

 of these capacities. As sailors ' pets the amazons 

 are well known, both in fiction and in true life. 

 Macaws, though noisy beyond reason and mis- 

 chievous, can be taught to talk clearly, as can a 

 few parrakeets. The sole claim of love-birds to 

 popularity, however, is their affectionate dispo- 

 sition. They are silent. 



Cockatoos belong to an entirely different group 

 of parrots, being inhabitants of the East Indies, 

 Australia, and several neighboring islands. Al- 

 though docile pets they are easily excited, and 

 when that occurs their cries can be heard for 

 miles. It has been rightfully said that they are 

 more fond of screaming than talking. The vo- 

 cabulary of the average cockatoo consists of a 

 word or two, but once in a while a fair talker will 

 be found among them. As a whole, however, 

 they cannot compare with the amazons, to whom 

 imitation is second nature, and may be classed 

 with the third family of parrots, the lories, 



