312 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



gradually to turn its bill over its right shoulder, 

 and to nestle it among the feathers of its back, 

 sometimes concealing it completely within the plum- 

 age, at other times leaving a slight portion of its 

 upper edge exposed. At the same time it droops 

 the feathers of its wings and those of the thigh 

 coverts, so as to encompass the legs and feet ; and 

 thus, nearly assuming the appearance of an oval 

 ball of feathers, secures itself against all exposure 

 to cold."* 



Psittacus^ the Parrots. 



From their bright and showy plumage, their fa- 

 miliarity and docility, their faculty of closely imi- 

 tating articulate sounds, and the facility with which 

 they are kept in confinement, the Parrots have 

 always been general favourites. " In their charac- 

 ters, physical and moral, and in the peculiar mode 

 of existence resulting therefrom, in the situations 

 which they frequent, and in the occupations which 

 they pursue," as well as in their imitative powers, 

 their odd gesticulations and grimaces, and their 

 loud and harsh voices, they have generally been 

 considered as the representatives in their own class 

 of the Apes and Monkeys among Mammalia. 



The genus (or rather family) though a very ex- 

 tensive, is also a very natural, one ; any species is 

 easily recognised as a Parrot at first sight, even 

 by an unscientific observer: the short and stout 



* Gardens and Menag. vol. ii. p. 79. 

 f- Their ancient Greek name. 



