Parrot

a family of birds, remarkable for brilliant plumage and a power of imitating human speech. They live in tropical forests, eating seeds and fruit. The parrot is a poor walker but it is a strong flier. It can climb almost as well as a woodpecker, an operation in which it assists itself by clinging to vines and branches with its strong hooked bill. Of 500 species about 150 are inhabitants of tropical America. One species, the Carolina paroquet, formerly ranged from Colorado and the Great Lakes to the Gulf, but the demand for its green and gold wings, as well as its propensity for fruit, has confined it to the wilder parts of Oklahoma and Florida.

The largest parrot is the Central American macaw, whose depredations are dreaded by proprietors of orchards and cornfields. The scarlet macaw is a brilliant bird about three feet in length. The green macaw and the blue and the yellow macaw are somewhat smaller. They are all poor talkers, limited to a few phrases, but are favorite cage birds on account of their plumage. The smallest parrots are hardly as large as a red-winged blackbird. The best talker is the red-tailed gray parrot of Africa. It is said to be able to repeat the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed. The second place is claimed by the yellow-headed parrot of Mexico.

Formerly a rare gift bestowed by a returning sailor, parrots are now to be had of bird dealers in every considerable city. In the bird stores of New York they fetch from $5 to $15 each. Parrots constitute the most intelligent family of birds, displaying a sense of humor, and no little degree of affection, but they are changeable and quick tempered. It is claimed that the tongue of a parrot is remarkably like that of a person.

The parrot nests in a hollow tree, several pairs usually occupying the same cavity. If a few parrots be killed or wounded by discharging a gun, the other birds of the flock take flight, but circle back and settle down with every evidence of sympathy and concern for their unfortunate comrades. This affectionate trait facilitates their rapid extermination at the hands of the fowler.

The gray parrot has been known to live to an age of seventy years. In perching, the parrot directs two toes forward and two backward, suggesting relationship to the wise owl. Contrary to the fruit-eating habits of the family, the kea parrot of New Zealand has a liking for flesh, fresh mutton preferred. It is accused of killing sheep for its own consumption.