. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER XX THE ORDER OF PARROTS AND MACAWS PSITTACI The parrots, parrakeets, macaws and cocka- toos form a large group, containing in all more than 500 species. Of these, about 150 inhabit the New World, but only one species is found in the United States. South America contains the greatest number of species; Africa and Asia are but poorly supplied, and Europe has none. The widest departures from the standard types are found in New Zealand and Drawn by Edmund J.
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER XX THE ORDER OF PARROTS AND MACAWS PSITTACI The parrots, parrakeets, macaws and cocka- toos form a large group, containing in all more than 500 species. Of these, about 150 inhabit the New World, but only one species is found in the United States. South America contains the greatest number of species; Africa and Asia are but poorly supplied, and Europe has none. The widest departures from the standard types are found in New Zealand and Drawn by Edmund J. Sawyer. CAROLINA PAREAKEET. Although these birds are by nature thoroughly tropical, some of them range far into the tem- perate zones. This Order contains a larger pro- portion of beautifully colored birds than any other. Among the parrots, parrakeets, ma- caws and lories, there is a lavish display of brill- iant scarlet, crimson, blue, green, yellow and purple, while all save a few of the cockatoos are snowy white. The members of this Order are specially dis- tinguished by their bills and feet. Of the for- mer, the lower mandible is a short but power- ful gouge, while the upper mandible is a big hook, with a thick and heavy base, and a long, sharp point. The foot of a bird of this Order is evenly di- vided, with the second and third toes pointing forward, and the first and fourth pointing back. The tails of most parrots are rather short, and square at the end, and the legs are very short. With but one or two exceptions, all the 500 spe- cies of this Order feed upon fruit, seeds and flowers. The Parrots are celebrated by reason of the natural inclination of some species to mimicry, and their ability to learn to talk. They are naturally sedate and observant, possess ex- cellent memories, and are fond of the companion- ship of man. The broad, fleshy tongue of a parrot renders possible the articulation of many vocal sounds, and when a certain phrase is end- lessly repeated to a p
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