THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 91 



capacity, and their fame as talkers is very ancient ; 

 but they do not seem to be mimics in a wild state, 

 curiously enough. 



DISPOSITION AND HABITS. Their intelligence is well- 

 known, as also their malice and spitefulness ; but 

 in spite of the latter quality they are usually 

 social. They differ from most perching birds in 

 not bathing in many cases, though enjoying 

 rain. 



ECONOMIC QUALITIES. They are often extremely 

 destructive to grain and fruit crops ; but they 

 do some good by devouring grubs and seeds of 

 weeds. Many are eaten locally, and there is, of 

 course, a great demand for them as cage-birds. 



CAPTIVITY. For ages Parrots have been most familiar 

 cage-birds, as none thrive better in this condition ; 

 many have bred, especially the small long-tailed 

 " Parrakeets," some of which propagate regularly, 

 but only one, the Budgerigar (Melopsittacus 

 undulatus) can be called completely domesticated. 



DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT SPECIES. Parrots, of 

 which there are about five hundred species, are 

 found all round the world, chiefly in warm climates, 

 and especially in tropical America, whence come 

 the Macaws (Ara) and Amazons (Chrysotis), and in 

 the Australian region, to which last the brush- 

 tongued Lories (Loriincz) and the crested Cockatoos 

 (Cacatuince) are confined. A few range into 

 temperate climates, in New Zealand, North 

 America, and southern South America. They are 

 hardly ever migratory, and some are much localized ; 

 indeed, several have become extinct in modern 

 times. 



Of the typical Parrots, the familiar Grey Parrot 

 (Psittacus erithacus) is a common and widely- 

 ranging species in Equatorial Africa ; but Africa, 

 as a whole, has but few species of Parrots, and 



