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form a section also of this group. The wings are moderate, the tail rather short and nearly rounded, being but slightly graduated. The Lories are at once to be distinguished by the richness of their hues; purple, scarlet, and deep green, but especially the two former, are the usual ground colours of their plumage. Several species are to be seen in the Zoological Gardens.

The Parrakeets are united to another group, namely, the Maccaws, by several interesting links, such as the Dwarf Parrakeet-Maccaws (Nanodes, Vigors) of New Holland, and the Parrakeet-Maccaws (Psittacara, Vig.) of South America. The Maccaws are distinguished, among other things, by the cheeks being bare of plumage; and in these intermediate links, this character, though in a minor degree, is also exhibited in a naked circle round the eye. In many points the genus Nanodes is allied to Pezoporus, the species being terrestrial in their habits. The tail is long and graduated, and the wings of moderate length. One of the most beautiful examples is the Nanodes venustus; in length it is eight inches. Naked circle round the eyes yellow; a narrow blue band passes from eye to eye across the forehead; the upper and under wing-coverts, and tail above, blue; the tip of the last yellow; its under surface black, bounded by yellow. Quills black, sprinkled with blue; back olive green; throat and chest deep green; rest of the under surface yellow.

The genus Psittacara is confined to America. The beak is stout, the wings moderate, the tail long and graduated, the tarsi strong and short, the orbits naked. An example of this genus is the CAROLINA Parrot, (Psittacara Carolinensis, Vigors,) a bird whose habits and manners are admirably detailed from personal observation both by Wilson and Audubon. This beautiful and interesting bird is a resident in the interior of Louisiana and along the Mississippi and Ohio, advancing even as far as Lake Michigan, lat. 42o. "Eastward, however, of the great range of the Alleghany, it is seldom

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seen farther north than the state of Maryland; though straggling parties have been occasionally observed among the valleys of the Juniata." Such visits are but accidental. Wilson observes that it is a hardy bird, more capable of sustaining cold than nine tenths of its tribe "having," says 66 he, seen them in the month of February along the banks of the Ohio, in a snow storm, flying about like pigeons, and in full cry." The favourite food of this bird is the seeds of the cockle-bur, (xanthium strumarium,) a plant abounding in the rich alluvial districts bordering the Ohio and Mississippi; here also vast woods of sycamore and cypress afford a secure retreat; hence such localities hold out every inducement to it to take up its residence. Besides the cockle-bur, other fruits are eagerly devoured; but it does more mischief to the orchard or plantation by the wanton manner in which it strips the trees, than by what it actually eats. Pear, apple, or mulberry trees are often assailed by a flock, which, proceeding from branch to branch, leave the tree only when it is denuded, and then merely to commence their operations on another. Stacks of grain also suffer materially from the same process, the maize alone escaping their ravages. Audubon notices their fondness for sand, in which they scratch holes, with bill and claws, rolling and fluttering in it, and also swallowing small portions. The salt licks, as they are termed, are also a great attraction, for the sake of the saline earth, to which, in common with many animals, they are very partial. Like the more typical of the family, this species of Parrakeet is slow, creeping, and awkward on the ground; its flight, however, "is rapid, straight, and continued through the forests, or over fields and rivers, and is accompanied by inclinations of the body, which enable the observer to see alternately their upper and under parts. They deviate from a direct course only when impediments occur, such as the trunks of trees or houses, in which case they glance aside in a very graceful manner, merely as much as may be necessary. A general cry is kept up by the party, and it is seldom that one of these birds is on wing for ever so short a space without

uttering its cry. On reaching a spot which affords a supply of food, instead of alighting at once, as many other birds do, the Parrakeets take a good survey of the neighbourhood, passing over it in circles of great extent, first above the trees, and then gradually lowering, until they almost touch the ground, when, suddenly reascending, they all settle on the tree that bears the fruit of which they are in quest, or on one close to the field in which they expect to regale themselves. They are quite at ease on trees or any kind of plant, moving sideways, climbing or hanging in every imaginable posture, assisting themselves very dexterously in all their motions with their bills. They usually alight extremely close together. I have seen branches of trees as completely covered by them as they possibly could be. If approached before they begin their plundering, they appear shy and distrustful; and often at a single cry from one of them the whole take wing, and probably may not return to the same place that day. Should a person shoot at them as they go, and wound an individual, its cries are sufficient to bring back the whole flock, when the sportsman may as many as he pleases. If the bird falls dead, they make a short round, and then fly off." They roost in companies, in the hollows of trees, and choose such places also to breed in, several females depositing their eggs together, and hatching them in social concert. Two is the number of eggs laid by each individual. The young birds are at first covered with soft down, and afterwards green plumage, but do not acquire their full livery until two years are passed. The bill and naked space round the eye are white; forehead and cheeks orange red, passing into rich pure yellow, which covers the rest of the head and the neck; the shoulder is also tipped with orange; the rest of the plumage is emerald green, with light blue reflexions, paler on the under parts, the feathers of the thighs being yellow. Length fourteen inches.

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The genus Psittacara leads directly to that of the Maccaws, (Macrocercus,) characterized by the size of the bill, the upper mandible of which is strongly hooked,

the lower capacious, and deeply indented at its tip, as if a semilunar piece was cut out; the face is naked, or striped with narrow lines of feathers; the tail is very long, graduated, and pointed. The Maccaws are all natives of tropical America; and are clothed with the most brilliant plumage, the colours of which are strikingly contrasted. They are all of large size, and do not congregate, but live in pairs. The splendour and richness of their plumage has rendered them favourites in captivity; and though by no means apt at imitation, they are mild, gentle, and docile; their deportment is grave, and accords with the hoarse tones of their voice, which, however, is seldom exerted.

At the head of this magnificent group of birds stands the RED AND BLUE MACCAW, (Macrocercus Macao,) as the largest, and certainly one of the most ornamented. In length it measures three feet, the tail occupying nearly two thirds of the whole. The general plumage is of a deep scarlet, the quills being violet blue, and a band of blue occupying the space behind the shoulders. It is a native of Brazil.

The RED AND YELLOW MACCAW, (Macrocercus Aracanga,) the BLUE AND YELLOW MACCAW, (M. Ararauna,) the MILITARY MACCAW, (M. militaris,) are also beautiful species.

We shall conclude our sketch of the Psittacida with the Cockatoos, a group peculiar to India, Australia, and the Indian archipelago. The Cockatoos resemble the maccaws in the strength and curvature of the bill; it is, however, shorter, and in a genus confined to New Holland it is much contracted in length, its elevation being increased in proportion. The head is ornamented with a crest capable of being raised up or lowered at pleasure; the tail is short and square, and the eyes are encircled by a very narrow space of naked skin. The general colour is pure white, except in the New Holland genus

referred to, (Calyptorhynchus, Vigors,) the species of which have the ground colour nearly black.

In manners and disposition the Cockatoos bear much resemblance to the maccaws, being usually very gentle. One of the most beautiful is the ROSE-CRESTED COCKATOO, (Plyctolophus rosaceus,) a native of Sumatra and

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the Moluccas. Its colour is pure white, with a tinge of yellow on the lower wing and tail-coverts; the crest is composed of long plume-like feathers, the under ones being of an orange red; the bill is bluish black. In captivity it is very fond of being noticed, and of throwing itself into a variety of attitudes, raising its crest, and uttering an incessant and overpowering scream of exultation.

A still more beautiful bird is the GREATER SULPHUR

CRESTED COCKATOO (Plyctolophus galeritus) of New

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