THE PARROT 233 



PSITTACI 



The Parrots as a group of birds are much more satisfactory 

 than most of the feathered natural orders, because it is not easy to 

 misplace any of the tribe. The group is a very large one, as at 

 least five hundred species of true parrots are known. It also 

 inclydes the families of the Macaws, the Love-Birds, the Lories, the 

 Cockatoos, and others. 



THE PARROT (Family Nestorid^) 



The Parrot is a well-known bird, and many readers will no 

 doubt have heard one speak and whistle airs. It is easily tamed, 

 and its extraordinary capacity for picking up and mimicking the 

 sounds it hears never fails to make it a great favourite. It has a 

 wonderful memory, and may be taught to repeat words or sentences 

 or even to whistle a tune. 



If you watch a parrot in its cage you will notice that it climbs 

 about from point to point with its claws and its strangely-curved 

 beak. This will give you an idea of its habits in its wild state. 

 It lives chiefly on fruits, and its ability to climb enables it to get 

 into the necessary positions for securing its food. When feeding, 

 flocks of parrots gather on the trees, clambering about as you see 

 tame ones in their cages, and chattering noisily. 



The parrot builds generally in a hole in a tree, and lays two or 

 three white eggs. When the young are newly hatched, the parents 

 give them food which they have previously softened in their own 

 crops, just as you may have seen pigeons doing at home. 



The parrot is beautifully coloured. Some species are bright 

 green, some gray touched with red, some white. Indeed there are 

 as many different varieties of colour as there are species, and as 

 they fly about in flocks in the bright sun of the tropical countries 

 where they live they present a very wonderful sight. They move 

 through the air quickly and gracefully, but as they fly they utter 

 shrill screams. If you go into the parrot house at the Zoo you 



