83 
Table XVI. (See voL i., p. 17.) 
Order3. Tribe 2. Levirostral, ( Light-beaked .) 
Here we have no less than eight genera of birds, 
not one of which inhabits our country — and with 
the exception of the Parrot and Parroquet tribe, 
(and we may add the Toucan,) are comparatively very 
little known. W e have already noticed the Toucan, 
and its enormous, though light, beak ; indeed, were 
it heavy in proportion to its size, the poor bird 
would find it a sad inconvenience, not only prevent- 
ing its flight, but actually weighing its head down 
to the ground. As for Parrots, we, who are accus- 
tomed to prize them as valuable and scarce birds, 
are little aware of the actual plague they are in 
their own country. Nothing can be more beautiful, 
certainly, in description and appearance, than a 
flight of these brightly-feathered birds ; but the 
husbandman, who sees them hastening through the 
air, with loud and impatient screams, towards his 
crops, looks upon them with dismay and detestation, 
knowing, that the produce of his labour and industry 
is in jeopardy, when visited by such a voracious 
multitude of pilferers, who, like the locusts of 
Egypt, desolate whole tracts of country by their 
unsparing ravages. 
