Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/136

 126 PARROT middle tail feathers deep green, the others with the inner webs brownish red ; thighs yellow. This species has been seen as far north as Lake Ontario, though now it is chiefly confined to the southern and southwestern states, and as far as the Missouri to the west. They are very fond of the seeds of the cockle burr, and eat almost any kind of fruit and grain, from their immense flocks committing great havoc in the garden, field, and orchard, destroying in search of seeds far more than they consume ; they are killed in large numbers by the farmers, who consider their flesh a delicacy. The flight is rapid and direct, with great inclinations of the body and incessant noisy cries ; they generally alight close together on the trees bearing the desired fruit ; they are savage when wounded, but are easily tamed by immersion in water ; they are destructive in captivity, and incapable of articulating words. They are fond of sand and saline earths. . Many deposit their eggs in the same hollow of a tree, each laying two or three. Several other parrots are found in Mex- Carolina Parrot (Conurus Carolinensis). ico and Central America. To the subfamily of psittacince belong the parrots best known in the domesticated condition, especially the gray and green parrots so common as pets; in this group the head is without crest, the mar- gins of the bill are dentated or festooned, the wings pointed, and the tail short and square. In the old genus psittacus (Linn.) the bill is large, rather compressed, with biangular cul- men much arched to the tip, near which the lateral margin is deeply notched, the under mandible much sinuated and the anterior edge sharp ; wings generally reaching to the end of the tail, with second and third quills equal and longest. More than 40 species are found in the humid forests of Africa and South Amer- ica ; collecting at night in immense flocks, they leave their roosting places early in search of food, which consists chiefly of pulpy fruits and seeds, after which they bathe and retire to thick-leaved trees during the heat of the day, going in search of food again at night; they migrate in large flocks to warmer regions on the approach of the rainy season, rising to a great height and uttering the most discor- Gray Parrot (Psittacus erythacus). dant screams ; the young are fed with the dis- gorged half masticated food of the parents. The gray parrot (P. erythacus, Linn.) is the most remarkable for its docility and power of articulation; it is about 12 in. long, of an ash- gray color, with a bright scarlet tail, yellowish white irides, and grayish feet and toes. It is a native of W. Africa,. whence it has been im- ported from a very early period ; in captivity it feeds on bread and milk, nuts, and even meat, holding its food with one foot, and redu- cing it to small pieces by the bill and cutters on the palate ; it may reach the age of 70 and even 90 years. It breeds readily in captivity. In the genus chrysotis (Swains.), of tropical South America, the bill is smaller but strongly denta- ted ; the wings reach to the middle of the tail, which is broad and rounded. The green par- rot (O. Amazonicus, Gmel.)is very often taken to the United States and Europe on account of its great colloquial powers ; it is 12 in. long, the bill orange yellow, as well as the cheeks and chin ; the general color is shining green, with a bluish purple band over the forehead, and the feathers of the hind neck edged with black ; it inhabits the country watered by the Amazon, where it often does great mischief to the plantations. The festive parrot (0. festi- 0ws, Swains.), a native of the same forests, is 15 to 16 in. long, of a general green color, with a narrow red frontal band and eye streak blue above and behind the eyes, lower bad and rump vermilion, and the greater quill with blue outer webs and the inner greenisl black; it is docile, easily tamed, and learn readily to pronounce words and sentences The last two species are those most commonl; brought from South America; several other are described. In the genus psittacula (Briss the size is generally small; the bill is rathe large with the lateral margins festooned ; th pointed wings extend to the end of the tai