26 cassell's book of birds. 



With the exception of Europe, parrots are to be met with in all parts of the world, more 

 especially in tropical regions; one American species ranges as far north as 42 , and another is 

 found in the southern hemisphere, as far as the inhospitable wastes of Tierra del Fuego, in 53 south 

 latitude. Cockatoos are known to inhabit New Zealand and Macquarrie's island, 52° south. 

 In Asia and Africa, the parrots are principally confined to the limits of the torrid zone ; in China, 

 they rarely pass 27° north latitude, and in India, at furthest, only extend to the foot of the Himalaya 

 mountains. In Western Africa, they rarely go beyond 16° north, and in Eastern Africa, according 

 to our information, not further than 15°; but towards the southern hemisphere they probably are to be 

 met with at a greater distance from the equator. 



Generally speaking, the woods are their favourite haunts ; but this is by no means universally 

 the case. There are certain species, for example, which only frequent tree-less plains or wide steppes ; 

 in the Andes some are to be found living far beyond the region of trees, even at an altitude of 

 1 1 ,000 feet above the level of the sea. 



In the north-east of Africa, according to our own experience, they almost exclusively reside in 

 places frequented by monkeys, insomuch that apes and monkeys seem to be their inseparable 

 companions. The more extensive the forests — that is, the richer they are in vegetation — the more 

 these birds abound ; indeed, in the tropical forests, they constitute a large — we might almost say, the 

 largest — proportion of the feathered inhabitants. The same remark applies to Australia, as well 

 as to many localities in India, and in part also to Africa ; in these countries parrots are as numerous 

 as crows are in Europe, and as common as sparrows. 



They would seem to understand how to make themselves conspicuous ; and while they deafen 

 the ear with their discordant cries, enliven the dark shades of tropical forests with their lavishly- 

 coloured plumage. " It is impossible," says Gould, " to describe the enchanting scene afforded 

 by certain parrots, more especially by those adorned with feathers of glowing red, as they wheel 

 their varied flight among the silver-leaved gum-trees of Australia, their gorgeous plumage standing 

 out amid the surrounding scenery with wonderful effect." 



" Morning and evening," writes Schomburgk, " countless multitudes may be seen at a considerable 

 height, making an insufferable noise ; one afternoon I saw such a prodigious flight descend upon the 

 trees by the river-side, that the branches bent low under the weight of the birds." " It is necessary to 

 have lived in these countries, more especially in the hot valleys of the Andes," says Humboldt, " to 

 believe it possible that the shrieking of the parrots actually drowns the roar of the mountain torrents 

 as the waters leap from rock to rock. What would those wondrous tropical forests be without 

 parrots ? Lifeless gardens of enchantment, a wilderness of silence, a solitary desert ; by these birds 

 they are awakened and kept alive, for the parrots know equally well how to find occupation both for 

 the ear and eye of the traveller." 



Except in the breeding season, parrots live in society, or, we might rather say, in great flocks ; 

 they select a locality in the forest as their settlement, and thence make daily excursions to 

 considerable distances. Early in the morning they simultaneously quit their roosting-place, to invade 

 the same tree or the same field in search of food, stationing sentinels, whose duty it is to protect the 

 community from a sudden surprise. They pay instant attention to any voice of warning, and when 

 alarmed, immediately take flight, either all together or shortly after each other. 



" At the first glimmering of the clear morning sun of the tropics," says the Prince von AVied, 

 " the parrots rouse themselves from their sleeping-places, dry their wings, which have become wetted 

 with the dews of night, and playfully call aloud to each other ; then, after describing many sweeping 

 circles above the high woods, they quickly depart in search of the morning's meal. In the evening 

 they invariably come back again to their usual roost." 



