270 



BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



poor fliers, and are remarkable for their gorgeous plumage 



and their power of imitating the sounds of other animals. 



The Carolina 

 parroquet (Conu- 

 rus Carolinensis] 

 (Fig. 302), and 

 perhaps two oth- 

 ers, that have been 

 shot in Texas, are 

 the only repre- 

 sentatives in the 

 United States. 

 The former is 

 about thirteen 

 inches in length, 

 the general color 

 green, neck and 

 FIG. 302. Carolina parrot. head yellow, the 



face red, bill 



white, wings blue and yellow. They fly in flocks, feed- 

 ing upon nuts and seeds, 



and show the greatest 



affection for their mates 



or wounded companions. 



They are undoubtedly 



doomed to extinction. 



Allied are the cockatoos, 



lories, etc. 



NOTE. One of the most re- 

 markable parrots is the kea 

 (Nestor mirabilis] of New Zea- 

 land (Fig. 303). The general 

 colors are brown and gray, 

 the under portions red. The 

 upper mandible is extremely 

 long and sickle-shaped. Since 

 the introduction of sheep into 



FIG. 303. A carnivorous parrot (JVes- 

 tor mirabilis). 



