CHAPTER XXIII 

 ORDER OF PARROTS AND MACAWS 



PSITTACI 



^T^HE parrots, parrakeets, macaws and cockatoos form a 

 * large group, containing in all more than 500 species. Of 

 these, about 150 inhabit the New World, but only one species 

 is found in the United States. South America contains the 

 greatest number of species; Africa and Asia are but poorly 

 supplied, and Europe has none. The widest departures 

 from the standard types are found in New Zealand and 

 Australia. 



Although these birds are by nature thoroughly tropical, 

 some of them range far into the temperate zones. This 

 Order contains a larger proportion of beautifully colored birds 

 than any other. Among the parrots, parrakeets, macaws and 

 lories, there is a lavish display of brilliant scarlet, crimson, 

 blue, green, yellow and purple, while all save a few of the 

 cockatoos are snowy white. 



The members of this Order are specially distinguished by 

 their bills and feet. Of the former, the lower mandible is a 

 short but powerful gouge, while the upper mandible is a big 

 hook, with a thick and heavy base, and a long, sharp point. 



The foot of a bird of this Order is evenly divided, with the 



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