VARIETIES OF PARROTS 29 



second and third toes pointing forward, and the first and 

 fourth pointing back. The tails of most parrots are rather 

 short, and square at the end, and the legs are very short. 

 With but one or two exceptions, all the 500 species of this 

 Order feed upon fruit, seeds and flowers. 



THE PARROTS are celebrated by reason of the natural in- 

 clination of some species to mimicry, and their ability to learn 

 to talk. They are naturally sedate and observant, possess 

 excellent memories and are fond of the companionship of 

 man. The broad, fleshy tongue of a parrot renders possible 

 the articulation of many vocal sounds, and when a certain 

 phrase is endlessly repeated to a parrot that is secluded from 

 other sounds, the bird is sometimes moved to remember and 

 repeat it. The African Gray Parrot is the most celebrated 

 talker, and its value is from $15 upward. Next in rank comes 

 the Mexican Double Yellow-Head, although the Carthagena 

 Parrot, being a good talker and a more hardy bird, is rapidly 

 becoming more popular. Of both these species, the price in 

 the New York bird-stores is from $10 to $12. 



The parrot of the most remarkable habits is the KEA, of 

 New Zealand, a bird with very large and strong feet, which 

 not only loves fresh mutton, but sometimes kills sheep on its 

 own account, for food purposes. 



THE PARRAKEETS are really small, trim-built parrots, with 

 long, sharp-pointed tails. Excepting the Thick-Billed Par- 

 rot, which has been seen in southern Arizona, this Family con- 

 tains the only member of the Order Psittaci which inhabits 

 the United States. The CAROLINA PARRAKEET* once ranged 



1 Co-nu'rus carolinensis. Length, about 12 inches. 



