254 BIRDS. ZYGODACTYLI. 



tarsus shorter than the external toe ; the interior toes united 

 at their base ; tail of varied form. 



This large genus is at once to be distinguished by the peculiar structure of the 

 bill. Their food is chiefly fruits ; they have in general a brilliant plumage ; and in- 

 habit the Southern hemisphere of the globe. In climbing they are greatly assisted by 

 their bill. The genus may be divided into four sections. 



* No crest on the head. 



P. melanocephalus, Lin. White-breasted Parrot. Plumage green 

 above, beneath luteous ; breast whitish ; quill- feathers tipped with 

 blue ; bill and legs dusky. Size of a Pigeon. Inhabits Mexico. 

 Edw. pi. 169. 



P. mitratus, Tern. Head deep green, with the sinciput of a scarlet 

 blood- colour ; face, occiput, and throat, varied with green and 

 scarlet ; outer webs of the quills blue, margined with green and 

 yellow; tail beneath green blue, above green, the tip obscure 

 blue. Inhabits Brazil. Tern. PL Col. 207- 



P. cyanotis, Tern. (P. Braziliensis, Lin.) Plumage grass-green, 

 rather paler beneath, the feathers edged with purplish brown ; 

 round the base of the bill bright red ; cheeks deep-blue, and top 

 of the head yellow ; edge of the wings red, the wing-coverts and 

 secondaries edged with yellow, the primaries dusky blue ; outer 

 tail-feathers blue, the next red, and the others green, tipped with 

 yellow. Inhabits Brazil. Shaw, viii. pi. 77- 



P. accipitrinus, Lin. Plumage green, with ferruginous head and 

 neck, waved with blue ; quill and tail-feathers edged with blue. 

 Size of a small Pigeon. Inhabits Guiana. Edw. pi. 165. 



P. erythacus, Lin. Gray Parrot. Plumage ash-gray, deeper on 

 the upper parts, and more inclining to white below; orbits naked 

 and white ; tail crimson ; bill black. About 12 inches long. In- 

 habits Africa. 



This well known species is remarkable for its docility, the distinctness of its arti- 

 culation, and its loquacity. It readily imitates every sound within its hearing. The 

 gray Parrot is extremely long-lived ; and M. Vaillant mentions one as having lived 

 at Amsterdam in domesticity for seventy-three years after its arrival in Europe. 

 It moulted regularly every year till the age of sixty -five, after which its moulting 

 was irregular, and the red feathers of the tail were replaced by yellow ones. 



** With a pendulous or falling crest. 



P. cristatus, Lin. Broad-crested Cockatoo, Plumage white, with 

 a tinge of rose-colour on the head and breast ; crest on the head 

 large, arching over the whole head, white above, scarlet beneath; 

 capable of erection or depression ; orbits of the eyes naked ; tail 

 short ; bill black. Size of a common fowl. Inhabits Moluccas. 

 Shaw, viii. pi. 72. 



P. sulphureus, Lath. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Plumage white, 

 with a shade of pale yellow on the breast, sides, and wing-coverts; 

 a large yellow spot beneath each eye; crest lengthened and point- 

 ed, slightly reversed at the tip ; bill black. 15 inches long. In- 

 habits Moluccas Sharv, viii. pi. 73. 



