FAMILY PSITTACID,E 



32. Family PSITTACID-ffi) 



The Parrots 



This family included, in older classification, 

 all the parrots, parakeets, macaws, cockatoos, 

 etc., though in modern ones some of the less 

 typical Old World forms are made one or 

 more separate families. The group is a 

 large one of several hundred species and 

 many genera, and occurs in all tropical re- 

 gions, though few extend into temperate 

 climates except in Australia and New Zea- 

 land. They live mostly on vegetable food, 

 although the hooked bill and their habit of 

 using the feet to grasp their food is sugges- 

 tive of birds of prey. Their feet are, how- 

 ever, quite different, having two toes directed 

 forward and two backward. Their plumage 

 is often very highly colored and variegated, a 

 characteristic green being perhaps the most 

 prevailing color. The upper mandible has 

 considerable power of independent motion 

 and the tongue is fleshy and capable of much 

 movement. The bill is habitually used as a 

 help in climbing. 



The parrots are mostly very noisy birds 

 with harsh voices; the conversational ability 

 for which they are noted is confined to a com- 

 paratively few genera, among which is how- 

 ever, Amazona, represented by seve al species 

 in the Canal Zone. They usually nest in 

 hollow trees, the larger species of the Canal 

 Zone are birds of the deep forest, that disap- 

 pear from cleared districts. They remain 

 rather quiet during the hot part of the day, 



i53 



