114 
Birds of Celebes: Loriidae. 
in habits, living, as Jerdon says, almost exclusively in long grass, for which 
its lengthy tarsi are well adapted, and its nest is made on the ground. Gould 
(IV) remarks upon the difference in coloration of the young of the two species, 
those of the Grass-Owl being tawny, of the Barn Owl white. 
ORDER PSITTACI. 
A Parrot may be recognised among other birds by its large hooked hill, 
covered at the base by a cere, by its toes placed two in front and two behind, 
the fourth one being reversed, — these two characters being indeed shared by 
the Owls; the foot is used on occasion as a hand in Avhich it raises its food 
toAvards its bill; the bill, the upper mandible of Avhich is moveable, is made 
use of in climbing, which it does much, though heavily; its food is generally 
of a vegetable character, fruits, seeds, nuts, etc., but some species eat insects 
also. The colours are generally bright, and all tints are found, including pure 
red, blue, and yelloAV, but green (especially Parrot-green) is the commonest 
colour. As to size, the Parrots number amongst them some of the smallest 
birds, Avith a body scarcely larger than a Humble Bee, Avhile the largest attain 
the dimensions of a Raven or small Eagle. The tongue is thick and fleshy, or 
sometimes brushy or fringed ; as is Avell knoAvn some forms are clever at imitat- 
ing human speech. 
The Parrots lay white eggs, 2 — 10 in number (Einsch), depositing them in 
holes chiefly in trees; the young are hatched helpless and naked. For further 
particulars: cf. Einsch, Papageien 1867, I, pp. 1—238; Salvador!, Cat. B. XX 
Psittaci 1891, pp. 1, 2, 
FAMILY LORIIDAE. 
“Bill much compressed, generally longer than deep, not notched, and 
smooth; culmen rounded and narroAA’; loAver mandible rather long AA'ith the gonys 
narrow, straight, and obliquely slanting upAvards, not flattened in front and with 
no keel-like ridge; upper mandible with no fll e-like surface on the under sur- 
face of the hook. Tongue brushy. Cere broader over the culmen and gradually 
becoming narrower along the sides of the bill. Tail graduated or rounded, 
sometimes even, rarely longer than the wings, generally shorter. Wing acute, 
with the three first quills generally the longest. Range: Australian Region 
(except New Zealand, but including Polynesia)” — Salvador!, Cat. B. XX, 11. 
