Book II. ^ ^IrtiO LOCfT. T^T 



Book I. Part I. Sect. III. 

 Of FmghoYQus Hoo^billd Birds or TdrrotL 



Chap. I. 

 Of Gemots in general 



THe Parrot hath a great Head, a hard Beak and Skull. But why Nature gave 

 it a hooked Bill, whereas it is rather a Frugivorous than a Carnivorous or. 

 Rapacious Bird, Aldrovandm gives this reafon : Becaufe for the weaknefs of 

 the Feet, descending or climbing up boughs or grates, it could not commodioully 

 fuftain the weight of its body, were not the Bill of that crooked femicircular figure, 

 that it can as rt were with a hook or grapple catch hold of whatever is near. For the 

 Parrot in dimbirtg Walls or Trees firft catches hold with her Bill, as it were with a 

 Hook, then dratos up her body, then faftens her Feet - then reaching Up higher 

 claps on her Beakagain, and fo puts forward her body and feet alternately. 



The Parrot along with the Crocodile moves the upper Jaw, as all other Animals do 

 the lower. The Tongue is broad, which is common to it with other Rapacious 

 birds, of the figure of a Gourd-feed, as Scaliger notes. Hence it is called in Greeks 

 'AvQfunvyAwTl©*, both becaufe its Tongue relemblcs a mans,and alfo becaufe it imi- 

 tates humane ipeech. The Feet are of a lingular faihion, for they have not three 

 Toes Handing forward and one backward, but two each way, like Woodpeckers. 

 Jo.Faber,'m his Expofitions of Nardi Antonio Recchi his Animals found in New Spain, 

 hath noted and obferved concerning the Toes of Parrots fomething not mentioned 

 by any Author, viz. That when they walk, climb up, or defcend down the fides of 

 their Cages, they ftretch two of their Toes forward, and two backward 5 bwf 

 when they take their meat, and bring it to their mouths, they make ufe of three Toes 

 to hold it till they have eaten it up. Yea, f which may feem wonderful ) they do fo 

 dexteroufly and nimbly turn the greater ^ind-toe forward and backward,that on fight 

 of it you would confefs your felf not to know, whether it were given them by Na- 

 ture to be ufed as a fore- toe in feeding, or a back-toe in walking. 60 that it feems iii 

 this rc$e& they resemble Owls. It hath crooked Claws, wherewith it holds its meat like 

 Rapacious birds, and brings it to its mouth, after the manner of men. For taking 

 it in its Toes it lifts it up to its mouth, not turning the foot inward, but outward, 

 after a faihion not only ufualand ridiculous, but one would think alfo incommodious. 

 It doth not only firft of all with its Bill as it were with Teeth break or divide entire 

 Almonds, but rolling them up and down within the Cavity of its Bill, doth as it were 

 champ and chew them, (brining them before it fwallows them. Parrots while they 

 are yet wild and at liberty do eat all forts of grain and pulfe. And this is peculiarly 

 obferved of them above other creatures, that as Swallows feed upon Hellebore, and 

 Starlings upon Hemlock, fo do they upon the feed of * Baftard Saffron (which to ^w'^or 

 man is a purgative ) not only without receiving harm thereby, but growing fat with Carthmili > 

 it. Moreover, they eat all forts of fruits, as well fuch as are covered with a foft rind, 

 as thofe with a hard {hell, ws.Nuts, &c. and are greatly delighted in them. , 



They do not only imitate mans voice, but in wit excell all other birds, asAldrovan- 

 dus proves by many Hiftories and examples. I (hall not think much to let down one 

 very pleafant ftory, which Gefner faith was told him by a certain friend, of a Parrot, 

 which fell out of King Henry VIII. his Palace at Weftminfter into the River of Thames 

 that runs by, and then very feafonably remembring the words it had often heard 

 fome whether in danger or in jeft ufe, cried out amain, A Boat, a Boat, fir twenty 

 found, A certain experienced Boatman made thither prefently, took up the Bird, 

 and reftored it to the King, to whom he knew it belonged, hoping for as great a re- 

 ward as the Bird had promifed. The King agreed with the Boatman that he fliould 

 have as the Bird being asked anew mould fay : And the Bird anfwers, Give the Knave 

 aGroat. 



They are very frequent in both Indies, as well Eafi as Weft. They breed not in 

 cold Countries j for they are impatient of cold, fo that they can hardly bear our 



Winters, 



