83 



TABLE XVI. (See vol. i., p. 17.) 

 Order 3. Tribe 2. LEVIROSTRAL, (Light-beaked.) 



HERE we have no less than eight genera of birds, 

 not one of which inhabits our country and, with 

 the exception of the Parrot and Parroquet tribe, 

 (and we may add the Toucan,) are comparatively very 

 little known. We have already noticed the Toucan, 

 and its enormous, though light, beak; indeed, were 

 it heavy, in proportion to its size, the poor bird 

 would find it a sad inconvenience, not only prevent- 

 ing its flight, but actually weighing its head down 

 to the ground. As for Parrots, we, who are accus- 

 tomed to prize them as valuable and scarce birds, 

 are little aware of the actual plague they are in 

 their own country. Nothing can be more beautiful, 

 certainly, in description and appearance, than a 

 flight of these brightly-feathered birds ; but the 

 husbandman, who sees them hastening through the 

 air, with loud and impatient screams, towards his 

 crops, looks upon them with dismay and detestation, 

 knowing, that the produce of his labour and industry 

 is in jeopardy, when visited by such a voracious 

 multitude of pilferers, who, like the locusts of 

 Egypt, desolate whole tracts of country by their 

 unsparing ravages. 



