42 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS 



characteristic of the Parrot family, yet there are 

 some which have long legs, and toes more fitted for 

 walking than climbing, being shorter and straighter, 

 as may be instanced in our representation of the 

 Ground Parrot, Plate 3. The birds of this kind 

 have been formed into a separate genus by Illiger, 

 under the name of Pezoporus, The claws of this 

 division are but slightly bent ; and the birds remain 

 almost constantly on the ground, and run about 

 with great swiftness. 



The bill of the Parrot is very peculiar in its for- 

 mation, for both the upper and lower mandibles 

 are moveable. In most other birds, the upper 

 mandible is connected with, and forms part of the 

 skull ; but in Parrots, and a few other tribes, it 

 is only connected with the bone of the head by a 

 strong membrane, which is placed on each side, 

 and that lifts and depresses it at pleasure. By this 

 curious contrivance, they can open their bills the 

 more widely, which, to them, is an indispensable 

 property, as the upper mandible is so much hooked^ 

 and so overhanging, that, if the lower chap only had 

 motion, they could scarcely gape sufficiently to take 

 any thing in for their nourishment. In climbing, 

 Parrots are greatly assisted by their bills, for they 

 rest upon branches by the under mandible, while, 

 with the upper one, they sustain themselves, both 

 in the act of ascending and descending. 



As might be expected in a family so extensive, 

 there is considerable variety in the length and 

 structiu'e of the wings ; which ai'e in general 



