Parrots Birds 
tree. There is one parrakeet that builds in holes 
along the river banks, while the kakapo and night- 
parrakeet build on the ground in tussocks of grass. 
The incubating period is about twenty-four days, 
and the father bird helps incubate. The young are 
born helpless, and are tenderly cared for by their 
‘parents until fully grown. The parrots remain mated 
for life, and make devoted pairs. Although they are 
social, and fly in flocks, Dr. Arthur A. Allen states 
that in Central America it can be easily seen that 
they fly in flocks by pairs. He also says that though 
the isolated parrot seems so brilliant, its colors par- 
ticularly fit it to become invisible when in trees and 
looked at from below; and although the racket 
they make is ear-rending yet one rarely gets a 
glimpse of the birds. 
In climbing trees the parrots use both their feet 
and beaks, and these same convenient organs enable 
them to gather fruits, seeds and nuts, of which they 
are very fond. In some countries they are pests, 
because they attack trees in fruit, and grain in the 
fields. In Mexico they often damage the corn in 
the milk stage. 
Parrots are long-lived; authentic instances of 
their reaching the age of seventy have been re- 
corded. One is described as reaching the age of nine- 
ty-three, and becoming very decrepit and helpless. 
Parrots never forget a person that annoys them, and 
therefore they should always be treated with gentle- 
ness, excepting when punishment is necessary. They 
are birds with strong likes and dislikes, which to 
us are quite mysterious. A parrot I knew fell in 
love with one of twin spaniels when he was a puppy; 
the two puppies were seemingly exactly like, but 
the bird chose one and would have nothing to do 
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