Prosthemadera Novaeseelandiae

Parson Par"son, n. [OE. persone person, parson, OF. persone, F. personne person, LL. persona (sc. ecclesiae), fr. L. persona a person. See {Person}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Eng. Eccl. Law) A person who represents a parish in its ecclesiastical and corporate capacities; hence, the rector or incumbent of a parochial church, who has full possession of all the rights thereof, with the cure of souls. [1913 Webster]

2. Any clergyman having ecclesiastical preferment; one who is in orders, or is licensed to preach; a preacher. [1913 Webster]

He hears the parson pray and preach. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

{Parson bird} (Zo["o]l.), a New Zealand bird ({Prosthemadera Nov[ae]seelandi[ae]}) remarkable for its powers of mimicry and its ability to articulate words. Its color is glossy black, with a curious tuft of long, curly, white feathers on each side of the throat. It is often kept as a cage bird. [1913 Webster]