70 



ZOOLOGY. 



The character of this Order is, that the Bill is conyex, 

 compressed ; with the edges (in most of the species) ciil^ 

 trated, 



1. Psittacus. Parrot. Bill hooked, upper mandible 

 moveable, mostly covered at the base with Ctre ; nos- 

 trils rounded, situated near the base of thebiSl : tongue 

 fleshy, obtuse, entire; feet formed for climbing, having 

 two toes forward, and two backward. This genus is 

 divided into Maccaws ; having the sides of the head 

 bare of feathers; the tail loiig, and v\ ed«j;e-s. nped. 

 Cockatoos, head crested ; tail short, even at tiie ex- 

 tremily. Parrots, sides of (he head bare, without a 

 crest, tail short, aiid even at the tip. Parrakefts, 

 cheeks covered with feathers ; tail pointed. Lokys, 

 this division contains many of thp most beautiful Birds 

 of the genus, their predominant colours, are various 

 shades of icl ; the cheeks are covered with feathers ; in 

 some species ihe tail is even, in others, cuneated. 



Parrotts feed mostly on seeds and fruits, some devour the 

 eggs of birds, and vaiious kinds of small reptiles ; they are 

 all natives of warm woody countries, and are generally gre^ 

 garious; they lay but two eggs, which are usually deposited 

 in the decaying hollows of trees, or in holes, that have been 

 previously occupied by some species of Woodpecker. When 

 full grown, they are hardly to be taken alive ; but the 

 young, may be reared from the nest, and soon become quite 

 tame and familiar ; they possess the faculty of speaking, 

 more perfectly than any other kind of bird, and resemble the 

 human voice so nearly, as often to be mistaken for it. 



