ORDER XIII. PAROQUETS AND PARROTS. 



PSITTACI. 

 Family 1. PARROTS and PAROQUETS. PSITTACIM:. 2 species. 



Parrots are found throughout the warmer parts of the earth. About 

 one hundred and fifty of the some five hundred known species inhabit 

 America. The Carolina Paroquet, practically the only member 

 of this family found in the United States, since the Thick-billed Parrot 

 barely reaches our border in Arizona, was once an abundant bird 

 in the Southern States, but it is now restricted to a few localities in 

 Florida and possibly Indian Territory, 



ORDERXIV. CUCKOOS, TROGONS, KINGFISHERS, ETC. 



COCCYGES. 



Family 1. CUCKOOS, ANIS, etc. CUCULID^E. 5 species 2 sub- 

 species. 



Family 2. TROGONS. TROGONHXE. 1 species. 



Family 3. KINGFISHERS. ALCEDINID.E. 2 species. 



The Cuckoos are a group of world-wide distribution, but are more 

 numerous in the eastern than in the western hemisphere where only 

 thirty-five of the some one hundred and seventy-five species are found. 

 The habit of the European Cuckoo in placing its eggs in the nest of 

 other birds is well known. The American species, however, build 

 nests of their own though it is true they are far from well made struc- 

 tures. With the Anis one nest serves for several females who may de- 

 posit as many as thirty eggs, incubation and the care of the young 

 being subsequently shared by the members of this singular family. 



Trogons are found in the tropics of both the Old and New Worlds. 

 They are quiet, sedentary birds inhabiting forests and feeding largely 

 on fruit. So far as is known they nest in hollow trees. 



Only eight of the one hundred and eighty or more known King- 

 fishers are found in America, the remaining species being confined to 

 the Old World where they are most numerous in the Malay Archi- 

 pelago. 



144 



