BRXJSH-TONGUED PARROTS 



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or small flocks. Large limbs stripped of bark evidence the 

 strength of their beaks in search of white grubs. The White 

 Cockatoo and many of the smaller parrots usually feed in flocks. 

 When they learn by experience the danger of the proximity of 

 man, the Cockatoos are extremely wary, and difficult to approach. 

 They learn to post sentries, when, say, the flock are engaged in 

 raiding a newly-sown grain paddock. The vigilance of the 

 sentries is truly surprising, for if danger is lurking about, on 

 the slightest intimation of it, the watchers give the alarm cry, 

 and the whole flock take flight. The sentries are relieved at 

 intervals from the main body, who take up the watch while the 

 others go to feed. Mr. Isaac Batey, who has had a long 

 experience of bush life, and has closely observed these birds, says 

 that they will, further, send out scouts for the purpose of 

 investigating the food supply of a district. "Thus, when I see 

 half a dozen cockatoos, or more often a single one, pattering to 

 and fro, as if on a general ramble, I can safely predict that, 

 provided the spies report favourably, before a week expires 

 the grand horde will appear." It is strange indeed that the 

 birds should submit themselves to labour alone for the good of 

 the community, and that, with their limited number of natural 

 notes, they should be able to communicate good or bad informa- 

 tion to the main body. There can be no question of the very 

 high degree of intelligence shown by these birds. 



Parrots and Cockatoos. 



Family Loriidce. Brush-tongued Parrots. 



Key to the Genera. 



Tail feathers gradually tapering to a point, more or less 

 acute ; predominant colour underneath and above 

 green ; tail feathers green with no yellow or red at the 

 tip; tail moderate; the two middle tail feathers not very 

 long. Shaft-streaks more or less blue on the head; breast 

 generally tinged with red. Trichoglossus. 



Like Trichoglossus, only differing in colour ; no blue shaft- 

 streaks on the forehead, and no red colour on the 

 breast ; head yellowish or bluish green ; bill orange-red. Psitteuteles. 



Predominant colour green, with yellow-green shaft-streaks 



on the neck and body; bill orange-red. Ptilosclera. 



First primary equal or little longer than the second and 

 third ; predominant colour green ; bill black ; dimensions 

 small. G-lossopsittacus. 



