388 



THE CAROLINA PARROT. 



" On the death of this companion she appeared restless and inconsolable for several days. 

 On reaching New Orleans I placed a looking-glass beside the place where she usually sat, and 

 the instant she perceived her image, all her former fondness seemed to return, so that she 

 could scarcely absent herself from it a moment. It was evident 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 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 



CAROLINA PARROT. Conuna caroKnatels. 



one morning about daybreak wrought her way through the cage while I was asleep, instantly 

 flew overboard and perished in the Gulf of Mexico." 



The result of this and other experiments was, that Wilson delivered his verdict in favor of 

 the Carolina Parrot, saying that it is a docile and sociable bird, soon becomes perfectly familiar, 

 and is probably capable of imitating the accents of man. Towards its own kind it displays the 

 strongest affection, and if its companions be in danger, it hovers about the spot in loving sym- 

 pathy. It is very fond of salt, and will frequent the saline marshes in great numbers, covering 

 the whole ground and neighboring trees to such an extent, that nothing is visible but their 

 bright and glossy plumage. 



While thus assembled together Wilson shot a great number of the birds, and was much 

 struck with their affectionate conduct. " Having shot down a number, some of which were 

 only wounded, the whole flock swept repeatedly round their prostrate companions, and again 

 settled on a low tree within twenty yards of the spot where I stood. At each successive 

 discharge, though showers of them fell, yet the affection of the survivors seemed rather to 



