TARROTS. 25 



the claws are not long, but much bent and tolerably sharp, never very powerful. The structure of 

 the wings is in exact correspondence with that of the feet ; the bones are of moderate length, but 

 strong ; the pinion feathers tolerably numerous — twenty to twenty-four. The compactly formed 

 primary quills are seldom long, but so disposed that the outspread wing is generally pointed ; the 

 tail-feathers vary considerably in different species, both as regards length and shape. The general 

 plumage is remarkable on account of its compactness ; it consists of few feathers, but these are 

 usually of large size, with the exception of those covering the head, which are small. The eye is 

 in many instances surrounded by a naked patch of skin, which during life is usually powdered over 

 with white dust. The body feathers are each furnished on the under side with a large downy- 

 appendage. The coloration of the plumage, notwithstanding its great diversity, will require notice, 

 as presenting a feature very distinctive of the different races of parrots. The prevailing tint is a 

 more or less vivid leaf-green ; but we also meet with hyacinth, blue, purple, red, golden yellow, and 

 at times darker hues ; their distribution is also characteristic, more especially the frequent occur- 

 rence of complementary colours upon the upper and under sides of the same feather — blue-violet, 

 dark blue, light blue or green above, with light yellow, orange-yellow, cinnabar red, or purple 

 underneath. Not less peculiar is the frequent concealment of glowing tints among others which are 

 less conspicuous, as, for example, in the case of some Cockatoos in which we meet with feathers having 

 their lower portion and their downy roots of a deep cinnabar red or brilliant yellow, and yet this 

 portion is seldom visible, on account of the length of the white feathers among which it is hidden. 



The extraordinary intelligence exhibited by some parrots is particularly remarkable; it is. 

 indeed, their sensible behaviour, not their form, that makes us regard these creatures as repre- 

 sentatives of the Quadrumana. The parrot has, superadded to the form of a bird, all the quali- 

 fications and troublesome propensities of the monkey — humoursome and fickle at one moment, 

 gentle and agreeable at the next; it is intelligent, active and circumspect, provident and crafty, 

 very quick in discernment, and possessed of an excellent memory ; on this account it is eminently 

 susceptible of instruction, and may be taught almost anything. On the other hand, it is choleric, 

 malicious, spiteful, and deceitful ; it forgets injuries as little as it does kindnesses ; it is cruel and 

 inconsiderate to creatures weaker than itself, tyrannically ill-treating the helpless and unfortunate, 

 as does the monkey. It has been the fashion to rank parrots as inferior to many other birds, because 

 they do not exhibit such conspicuous capabilities of locomotion ; they are, nevertheless, very well 

 endowed, even in this respect. The larger species fly with apparent heaviness, but with considerable 

 rapidity ; the smaller, wonderfully well — so well, indeed, that we have been almost consoled for the 

 loss of a favourite bird whilst watching the beauty of its flight. Very man)- appear to be quite out 

 of their element when upon the ground, they seem to hobble rather than to walk, but there are 

 some Ground Parrots that run swiftly and with much facility; and Gould makes mention of a 

 Grass Parrot that he saw running upon the ground like a plover. The capability of hopping from 

 bough to bough is an accomplishment in which parrots are deficient, nevertheless they have their own 

 mode of progression among the branches ; any considerable space they fly over, but smaller distances 

 they pass by climbing, and that with considerable rapidity, unwieldy as some of them appear; 

 helping themselves along by means of their beak, as well as their feet, while other birds use their 

 feet only. Parrots are unable to swim, and are quite incapable of diving. The bill is far more 

 movable than that of any other bird, and is useful for many purposes. Their voice is harsh and 

 screaming, but yet not entirely destitute of an agreeable sound when heard in their native haunts. 

 Some species will learn to whistle tunes with remarkable clearness and accuracy ; the faculty which 

 they possess of imitating the human voice and speech is well known — their performance, indeed, is 

 wonderful ; they do not babble, they speak, and seem to know the meaning of the words they use. 

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