13(i THE NONPAREIL PARROT. 



with gray, and the claws gray. The beak is bluish- 

 gray ; the ophthalmic region is red, and the ey( 

 hazel. 



Levaillant says, this species of Parrakeet inhabits; 

 the Australian regions. It is also said to be a native 

 of some of the South Sea Islands. 



The tongue of this species is terminated in a 

 brush. It is probable that this formation of the I 

 tongue has some influence over the voice of the 

 bird, whose cry resembles a piercing whistle, but^ 

 without harshness. It is said not to be very sus- 

 ceptible of education : one which was kept for three 

 years at Malmaison, in France, had learned nothing 

 during that period. 



The food of this species is berries and fruits, 

 after having torn them to bits ; also almonds, grains, 

 and peppins, which they despoil of their outer 

 coating before swallowing them. While in a free 

 condition, they abstain from all animal food ; but 

 in captivity become omnivorous. 



It has been remarked, that when the primary 

 feathers of the wings have been clipped to prevent 

 them flying, they seldom grow again in our climate ; 

 and when they do, are exceedingly ill formed : those 

 only are renewed which fall naturally in the 

 moulting. 



It is considered that the best way of keeping 

 these birds without clipping their wings, would be, 

 after each moulting, to clip the interior down of the 

 first five or six primary feathers, three quarters of 

 their length from the base outwards. 



