SCANSORES. 



521 



climbing, some, however, of the Parrots moving about actively 

 on the ground. The colours of the plumage are generally ex- 

 tremely bright and gaudy; and they live for the most part upon 

 fruits. The Psittacidce are distributed throughout the tropics, 

 and in the southern hemisphere as far south as the 52d parallel. 

 They are monogamous, and make their nests in holes in the 

 rocks. Their natural voice is harsh and grating. The true 

 Parrots (Psittacus) are mostly inhabitants of tropical America, 



Fig. 226. Psittacidae. Purple-capped Lory (Lorius douiicella}. 



and their prevailing colour is green. The Cockatoos (Plyctolo- 

 phus], the Love-birds (Agapornis], and the Lorikeets (Tricho- 

 glossus) belong to the Australian province. The Lories (Lorius) 

 inhabit the East (fig. 226). The true Macaws (Araince) are 

 exclusively American ; and the true Parrakeets (Pezoporince) 

 are exclusively confined to the eastern hemisphere, being 

 especially characteristic of Australia. 



In the next family of the Scansores are the Toucans (Rham- 

 phastidce), characterised by having a bill which is always very 



