Beaks and Bills 251 



All this is expressive rather of the mental than the phys- 

 ical life of the bird. 



Within a period of five minutes I have observed the 

 following uses of the beak of a parrot perching in my 

 study. With its mandibles it picked up a sunflower 

 seed and comminuted it; it then hooked the upper man- 

 dible into a wire and swung itself along; gnawed at a nest- 

 ing-hole it had begun to excavate; nibbled gently at 

 my finger, showing affection; bit fiercely in anger and 

 fear at a dead snake which I presented; preened several 

 feathers of one wing, smoothing out all the dislodged 

 barbs; rattled its beak along the wires to make a sound 

 to attract my attention; and finally seized its water-pan 

 and turned it over in pure playfulness! 



