The Macaws ([Fig. 184]), the largest of the Parrots, are recognisable from their bare cheeks and long tapering tails. They inhabit South America, and are arrayed in the most brilliant colours. The principal species are the Red, the Blue, the Green, and the Black Macaws. The name Arara, by which they are known in their habitat (Brazil), describes the deafening cries which they utter. Very familiar, they tame easily, and do not abuse the liberty granted them, for they never move far from their dwelling-place, and always return to it. They like the caresses and attentions of people they know, but do not care for strangers. The Green Ara is remarkable for its aversion to children. This peculiarity doubtless arises from the fact that it is very jealous, and that it often sees children receive the caresses of its mistress. The Macaws have only the gift of imitation in a slight degree; they are scarcely able to retain any words, and articulate badly.
Parrakeets, much smaller than Macaws, have, like them, long and tapering tails, but their cheeks are wholly or partially feathered. Some species, which resemble the preceding group by being more or less destitute of plumage round the eyes, for this reason have received the name of Macaw-Parrakeets. Parrakeets are highly esteemed for their vivacity, gentleness, and the facility with which they learn to talk. Their plumage is generally of a uniform green; sometimes it is varied with red or blue. They inhabit South America, the islands of Oceania, the Indies, Africa, and Senegal.
Fig. 187.—Grey Parrots (Psittacus erythacus, Sw.).
The Tabuan or King's Parrot (Platycercus scapulatus, Vig.), which inhabits Australia, belongs to this group. These birds form a curious exception in the order of Climbers by their terrestrial habits. According to M. J. Verreaux, they never perch when pursued, but take refuge on the ground among the herbage.
Fig. 188.—Green Parrot (Psittacus amazonicus, Briss.).
Parrots, properly speaking, are distinguished from other groups of the same family by their short square tails. They have feathered cheeks like Parakeets, and their size is intermediate between them and the Aras. They are much appreciated on account of their memory, and also for their habit of repeating what they hear. Parrots are divided into several species, founded upon the size and the predominating colour of the plumage. The first of these is generally grey, and consists only of the Grey Parrot, or Jaco, indigenous to the West Coast of Africa, to which the chief part of the anecdotes recounted in the preceding pages relate. Next comes a species the plumage of which is green; the most remarkable of these is the Amazonian Parrot. The principal colour of the Lories is red; they inhabit the Moluccas and New Guinea. Love-birds ([Fig. 186]) are the smallest of this group; their plumage varies in shades according to the climates. They are met with in America, Southern Africa, and in the islands of Oceania.
Cockatoos have tails of medium length, cheeks feathered, and head surmounted by a white, yellow, or pink tuft, which they can raise and lower at will. They are the largest among the race of Parrots of the Old Continent. They inhabit the Indies and the isles of Oceania, and are pretty, graceful, docile, and caressing, but are indifferent talkers. One very remarkable species of this group is the Microglosse (little tongue), called by Levaillant the "Macaw with the trumpet," from the formation of its tongue, which is cylindrical, and terminated by a little gland slightly hollowed at the extremity. When this bird has reduced into fragments, by the help of its jaws, the kernels of the fruits which form its nourishment, it seizes the pieces by means of the hollow which terminates the tongue, and having tried the flavour, projects the trumpet in front, and makes it pass to the palate, which has the function of causing it to fall into the throat. This curious mechanism was disclosed by Levaillant.
