PARROTS 
NE of the most ancient of birds is the 
parrot, and it remains true to its 
type. There are fossils in Miocene 
rocks that show the parrot as it is 
to-day. The ability of these birdsto 
talk, and their interesting habits, 
caused them to be made pets by 
ancient savage peoples, especially of 
India and Africa. The Romans 
brought these birds to Rome from India and Africa, 
in the time of Nero; later the price of one of them 
was as great as that of a slave. Parrots were first 
introduced into northern Europe about the time of 
the discovery of America, Columbus having brought 
back several on his first expedition. 
The parrots are all tropical or subtropical birds, 
although in the Himalaya mountains they occur as 
high as 4000 feet, and in the Andes they have been 
found at snow-line. They are social, and usually fly in 
flocks, their gorgeous plumage matching the brilliant 
flowers of the tropical forests. While in general they 
are short legged, and are awkward on the ground 
yet there are parrakeets in South Australia which 
live on the ground and are swift runners. These 
brilliant birds are as common along the roads there 
as are sparrows here. 
If we tried to visit all the parrots in their native 
countries, we should have to go to South America, 
Australasia, Africa and India; and wherever we found 
them, or whatever their color and size, they would 
surely all have thick, lithe, finger-like claws which 
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