PARROTS. 185 



This beautiful species was considered, when Mr. 

 Gould published his magnificent monograph of the 

 Rhamphastidce, as very rare ; though it was seen 

 alive by Edwards in the last century. Within a 

 few years, however, several living individuals of 

 this species have been brought to this country, 

 most of which are in the noble menagerie of the 

 Earl of Derby at Knowsley. 



FAMILY II. PSITTACID^E. 



(Parrots.) 



In their general form, the structure of their 

 beak, the cere that encloses its base, their thick 

 and fleshy tongue, the arrangement and form of 

 their toes, the scales with which their feet are 

 clothed, many details of their internal anatomy, 

 combined with their remarkable habits, and their 

 great intelligence and docility, the Parrots differ 

 very widely from the Families with which they are 

 usually associated, and form a group compact and 

 well-defined among themselves, but isolated in a 

 remarkable degree from all others. Many Natu- 

 ralists of eminence, indeed, do not hesitate to assign 

 to the Parrots the rank of an Order, commencing 

 the series with them, thus making them precede 

 the Birds of Prey, as the Quadrumana, which they 

 are supposed to represent, are put before the Car- 

 nivora. " If we except," says Mr. Blyth, " the 

 trivial character of their outer toe being reversed, 

 and their foot, even, is in all other respects 

 extremely different,* and covered with small tu- 

 bercle-like scales, instead of plates as in all the 



* See the Engraving at page 177. 



