PARROTS. 
543 
for themselves holes to answer this purpose. This order 
is, therefore, naturally divisible, by the form of the bill, 
into two families. 
FIRST FAMILY. 
In these birds the bill is more or less arched. The toes are usu- 
ally disposed in pairs, two before and two behind ; sometimes, how- 
ever, the external hind toe is reversible, or capable of being directed 
backward or forward. 
PARROTS. (Psittacus, Lin.) 
In these the bill is short, large, protuberant, extremely hard and 
robust, somewhat compressed, convex above and below, furnished 
with a cere at the base ; both the mandibles movable ; the up- 
per curved from its origin, with the margins angular, the point 
hooked, and more or less subulate ; lower mandible shorter, blunt, 
and curved at the point, which by use then sometimes presents two 
more or less obvious points. Nostrils basal, orbicular, open, and 
perforated within the boundary of the cere. Tongue thick and 
fleshy, entire, rounded at tip, and sometimes pencillated (or divided 
into terminal threads, as in the Toucans.) Feet short and robust; 
the tarsus naked and reticulated, shorter than the outer toe ; fore 
toes united at base, opposable to the hind ones ; outer hind toe not 
versatile ; sole of the foot broad and flat, nails incurved, rather large, 
and acute. — Wings rather long ; the 3 first primaries nearly equal, 
or very slightly graduated. Tail of various forms, consisting of 12 
feathers. — The female generally similar to the male; the young 
differ much from the adult, and pass through several changes pre- 
vious to attaining their perfect plumage ; the colors of which are 
unusually brilliant. 
These remarkable and gregarious birds dwell in forests, chiefly in 
all the warm or mild climates, excepting Europe ; a single small spe- 
cies exists however at the Straits of Magellan,* in the Southern hem- 
isphere, which is much more prolific in kinds than the Northern. 
They are naturally noisy and unmusical, having little or no variety 
of note, until tamed and educated, when, in consequence of their 
docility, aptness, and happy conformation of vocal organs, they are 
* Psittacus smavagdinus , Emerald Parrakeet. 
