116 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



from foreign countries, I have never seen a Caro- 

 lina Parrot kept in a cage. This seems a verifi- 

 cation of the truth of the old adage : A prophet 

 has no honor in his own country. They are 

 great favorites on the Continent of Europe for 

 their beauty and docility ; and that enthusiastic 

 and indefatigable ornithologist, Wilson, had one, 

 which he carried in his pocket, tied in a hand- 

 kerchief, for more than a thousand miles, in his 

 journey through the wilderness from Nashville to 

 Natchez, his sole companion in many a lonely 

 and weary day's travel. He intended to take 

 his favorite to Pennsylvania to finish its educa- 

 tion, as he says, but it unfortunately perished in 

 the Gulf of Mexico, by making a breach in its 

 cage, and flying overboard while he was asleep. 



FOOD. Wilson fed his, in the woods, on cockle 

 burs, from which they extract the seeds, and 

 beech nuts, but in a domestic state, of course 

 they may be fed like others. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEXES. As the females 

 of this tribe of birds chatter and whistle as well 

 as the males, the distinguishing marks are not of 

 much consequence ; however, we will give them, 

 if there are any. This bird is about thirteen 



