PARROTS 173 



Hi. Food. 



Their food consists principally of fruits and all kinds of seeds, which 

 the primeval forest supplies in inexhaustible abundance. With their 

 powerful beaks, which they use like nut-crackers, they can crush the 

 hardest shells and get at the sweet kernel within. The " file-like notches " 

 above referred to render them good service in feeding, and more 

 especially in the consumption of small, smooth-peeled fruits. The thick, 

 fleshy, and highly movable tongue renders aid in the peeling of seeds, as 

 may be seen by watching a tame parrot eating hemp seed. With larger 

 objects (ears of corn, larger fruits) the feet, too, are called into requisition, 

 for the purpose of holding the object and conveying it to the bill. 



iv. Relations to Man. 



Though parrots naturally cannot inflict any damage in their primeval 

 forests, they may make sad havoc in the fields and fruit-gardens of 

 settlers, which they often invade in great flocks. On account of their 

 magnificent plumage, their affection for their keepers, their faculty of 

 imitating spoken words and whole sentences, they are included among 

 our most favourite cage-birds. 



The Green Amazon Parrot (Chrysotis amazonica) , a very intelli- 

 gent bird, comes from the tropical forests of America. Our best talker 

 is the Gray Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), whose native home is in Africa. 

 The Cockatoos (Cacatuidce) have a light-coloured plumage (see Birds of 

 Paradise), and are distinguished by an erectile crest of feathers on the 

 head. They are confined to Australia and the East Indian Archipelago. 

 The neat little Love-Birds (Psittacula passerina) are usually kept in pairs 

 on account of the great affection they show for each other. (In Germany 

 they are known by the name of " inseparables.") 



ORDER V.: SWIFT-LIKE BIRDS (CYPSELOMORPHjE). 



Bill broad and short, or slender and long ; wings very long ; legs very 

 short, with naked, or incompletely cornified skin. Unable to climb, hop, 

 or run, but excellent fliers. Young helpless. 



The Common Swift (Cypselus apus). 



This bird is a common species in Britain and Europe, and in size, 

 structure, and mode of life strongly resembles the swallows (which see). 

 (The plumage is brown with the exception of the throat, which is white.) 

 It does not make its appearance (in Britain) until the end of April or 



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