The broad-billed parrot is a large extinct parrot in the family Psittaculidae that was endemic to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It has been classified as a member of the tribe Psittaculini, and may have been closely related to the Rodrigues parrot. The broad-billed parrot had a large head in proportion to its body, a distinct crest of feathers on the front of the head, and a very large beak that would have enabled it to crack hard seeds. Subfossil bones indicate that the species exhibited greater sexual dimorphism in overall size and head size than any living parrot. A contemporary description indicates that it had a blue head, a greyish or blackish body, and perhaps a red beak. The broad-billed parrot was first referred to as the "Indian raven" in Dutch ships' journals from 1598 onwards. It was first scientifically described from a subfossil mandible in 1866, but this was not linked to the few brief contemporary descriptions until the rediscovery of a detailed 1601 sketch (pictured). The bird became extinct in the 17th century owing to a combination of deforestation, predation by introduced invasive species, and probably also because of hunting.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-billed_parrot
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
756:
Emperor Xuanzong fled the Tang capital Chang'an as An Lushan's forces advance toward the city during the An Lushan Rebellion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Xuanzong_of_Tang
1791:
The Priestley Riots began, in which Joseph Priestley and other religious Dissenters were driven out of Birmingham, England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestley_Riots
1865:
A seven-man team made the first ascent of the Matterhorn, marking the end of the golden age of alpinism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_ascent_of_the_Matterhorn
1960:
English primatologist Jane Goodall arrived in Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve, Tanganyika, to begin her groundbreaking study of the social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Goodall
1987:
Over 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain fell in a two-and-a-half-hour period in Montreal, causing severe flooding and over CA$220 million in damages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Flood_of_1987
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
hapless: Very unlucky; ill-fated. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hapless
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Regardless of my own beliefs and my own doubts, which are unimportant in this connection, it is my opinion that art lost its basic creative drive the moment it was separated from worship. It severed an umbilical cord and now lives its own sterile life, generating and degenerating itself. In former days the artist remained unknown and his work was to the glory of God... The ability to create was a gift. In such a world flourished invulnerable assurance and natural humility. --Ingmar Bergman https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ingmar_Bergman