34 cassell's book of birds. 



them in order to exchange them for European articles, and nand them over to some sailor in the 

 nearest harbour, who knows nothing either of the necessary food or of the care they require; not 

 more than half the number that are shipped survive the long sea voyage, and many of those that 

 reach Europe in safety perish in the dark, dirty, pestiferous shops of the dealers. It is only when the 

 bird receives especial attencion that its fate is ameliorated ; but by that time it has often become 

 distrustful, violent, and ill-behaved, and only loses these rude ways after long care and kind treat- 

 ment ; it is, however, very quick, soon learns to adapt itself to its altered position, and becomes 

 accustomed to all kinds ol diet. At first hemp or canary seed is acceptable, but after a time the 

 parrot grows more dainty, and if supplied with sweets becomes such an epicure that any less 

 delicate food is distasteful ; it is easily habituated to almost anything that man enjoys, even to tea, 

 coffee, wine, or beer, and will quite intoxicate itself with strong drink. These remarks do not 

 apply to the little Australian Ground parrot, which refuses everything except grass seeds and the 

 leaves of plants. Most of the larger kinds enjoy hemp-seed, hard-boiled rice, ants, maize, let- 

 tuce, cabbage, fruit, small kinds of millet, canary-seed, and the leaves of plants ; such food as 

 this keeps them well and thriving. Bitter almonds and parsley, according to Kiile, are poisonous 

 to these birds. 



Many degrees of intelligence are observable among the members of the Parrot tribe, and the 

 same species often contains individuals of very varied capabilities; but the memory of all is generally 

 excellent. As regards teaching them to speak, the most important point to be attended to is that 

 they should at first be kept closely confined and constantly instructed ; any extent of freedom may, 

 however, be accorded when their education is nearly completed. On the contrary, should the owner 

 desire the parrot to breed, a certain amount of liberty is needful. For this purpose the first requisites 

 are space, quiet, and a suitable tree for the nest. A tolerably roomy chamber in which they may 

 live throughout the year, and the trunk of a hollow tree with convenient holes, the wood being of a 

 soft kind, afford all that is necessary in these respects. 



The classification of parrots is particularly difficult, on account of the great number of species, 

 and it is almost impossible to indicate distinct boundaries between the different families. It will, 

 however, answer our present purpose to arrange them under the general titles of True Parrots 

 (Psittaance), Macaws (Araince), Lories {Lorince), Cockatoos (Cacatnincz), and Ground Parrots 

 (Pezofionnce), all of which differ from each other more or less in their habits and modes of life. 



THE TRUE PARROTS {Psittacina) 



are inhabitants of the woods, only leaving them to linger on their outskirts, and from thence to 

 contemplate the tempting fields of fruit, upon which from time to time they make a raid. Many of 

 them never quit their dense forests, whilst others of the smaller kinds prefer the less shady trees 

 or open country. 



These birds belong to Africa and the neighbouring islands, and also to various islands in the 

 Pacific Ocean ; they are likewise met with in great numbers in South America. The family is very 

 rich in species ; we shall, however, only select a few from the many, seeing that the mere description 

 of their plumage would be wearisome, and we scarcely possess any information with regard to their 

 mode of life in their native haunts. There can be no hesitation in placing the " Jako," the Grey, or 

 Red-tailed Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) first upon the list, for it may be considered as the type of 

 the race ; it is true that it has neither the quickest flight nor the gayest plumage, but it combines in 

 itself that equal excellence of all the attributes of a parrot which gives and will retain for it a 

 pre-eminence among its congeners. 



