134 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



Parrots are gregarious, flying in large flocks and 

 feeding, roosting and nesting in numbers when pos- 

 sible. They are remarkable tor their harsh and pierc- 

 ing voices, and are extremely noisy, chattering and 

 scolding and screaming when alarmed and also for 

 pleasure. Their food consists principally of fruits 

 and nuts, but they are also insect-eaters, and at least 

 one species, the remarkable Kea of Australia, has 

 developed the habit of feeding on the flesh, particu- 

 larly the liver, of sheep, since their introduction into 

 that country. The tongue of the Parrot is short, hard 

 and round and has great mobility. It is of much as- 

 sistance to the bird in eating, rolling the food about in 

 the mouth and placing it in position for the beak to 

 tear or break apart, and also in articulating. 



Parrots are among the most brilliantly coloured of 

 birds, bright blue, scarlet, yellow and green being 

 mingled in the most striking contrasts imaginable. 

 Certain species, however, are quite dull-coloured. 



Many of them have short, square tails, but the 

 Macaws, the largest members of the family, have very 

 long, pointed tail-feathers. 



The beautiful bloom" which covers the feathers of 

 some Parrots and the beak and face of the African 

 Grey Parrot is due to a kind of powder formed by the 

 breaking up of what are known as powder-down 

 feathers. 



The Grey African Parrot may be taken as a typical 

 representative of the tribe. It is a very beautiful bird 

 of moderate size, with delicate grey plumage over the 

 body and a scarlet tail. This bird has acquired first 

 place among Parrots as a linguist, and well-trained 



