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GENUS PSITTACCS. 
in the hollows of decayed trees, and most of the 
species are supposed to lay only two white eggs, 
which are incubated alternately by both sexes. In 
disposition, they are the most docile of the family, 
and possess the power of imitating the human voice 
in as great, or perhaps greater perfection, than any 
of the other divisions. 
The first illustration belongs to the genus Psitta- 
cus, as restricted by Wagler, the characters of which 
are, — Bill strong, proportionate, the upper mandible 
with the culmen slightly narrowed, the tip, with its 
under surface, rough with elevated ridges, strongly 
toothed or emarginate, under mandible slightly com- 
pressed, with the cutting edges Binuated. Tongue 
thick, fleshy, smooth. Cere broad. Nostrils large, 
orbicular, placed in the cere near the base of the bill. 
Tail rather short, even at the end. Feet, the tarsi 
short, strong, and depressed, the two exterior toes 
long, and nearly equal. Plumage compact, the fea- 
thers of the neck broad, truncate, and imbricated. 
With the exception of the Grey Parrot, Psitt. ery- 
thacus, Linn., which, although provisionally re- 
tained in Wagler's genus, it is likely will eventually 
be separated from it, on account of its geographical 
distribution, the nudity of its face, and some other 
minor characters, the rest of the species belong to 
the tropical regions of America. The ground or 
prevailing colour is green, varied in different birds, 
with red, blue, and yellow. They are of a docile 
disposition, and of great imitative powers, on which 
