THE CAROLINA PARROT. 151 



ous parties frequently alighted on the trees imme- 

 diately above, keeping up a constant conversation 

 with the prisoner. One of these I wounded slightly 

 in the wing, and the pleasure Poll expressed on meet- 

 ing with this new companion was really amusing. 

 She crept close up to it as it hung on the side of the 

 cage ; chattered to it in a low tone of voice, as if 

 sympathizing in its misfortune; scratched about its 

 head and neck with her bill ; and both at night 

 nestled as close as possible to each other; sometimes 

 Poll's head being thrust among the plumage of the 

 other. On the death of this companion, she appeared 

 restless and inconsolable for several days. On reach- 

 ing New Orleans, I placed a looking-glass beside the 

 place where she usually sat, and the instant she per- 

 ceived her image, all her former fondness seemed to 

 return, so that she could scarcely absent herself from 

 it a moment. It was evident that she was completely 

 deceived. Always when evening drew on, and often 

 during the day, she laid her head close to that of the 

 image in the glass, and began to doze with great 

 composure and satisfaction. In this short space she 

 had learned to know her name ; to answer and come 

 when called on ; to climb up my clothes, sit on my 

 shoulder, and eat from my mouth. I took her with 

 me to sea, determined to persevere in her education ; 

 but, destined to another fate, poor Poll, having one 

 morning about daybreak wrought her way through 

 the cage, while I was asleep, instantly flew overboard, 

 and perished in the Gulf of Mexico." 



