THE QUIMEA PARROT. 



THE GUINEA PARROT. 83 



them considerable numbers of Guinea Parrots; but ihej are so tender, 

 that most of them die in their passage to our colder climate. It has 

 also been observed, that the firing of a vessel's great guns is fatal to 

 many of them, which drop down dead from 

 fear. Although very imitative of the manners 

 of other birds, it is a difficult thing to teach 

 them to articulate words. Some have attained 

 this art, but the instances are rare. 



They are exceedingly kind and affectionate 

 towards each other ; and it is observed that the 

 male generally perches on the right side of the 

 female. She seldom attempts to eat before him. 

 A male and female of this species were 

 lodged together in a large square cage. The 

 vessel which held their food was placed at the 

 bottom. The male usually sat on the same perch with the female, 

 and close beside her. Whenever one descended for food, the other 

 always followed; and when their hunger was satisfied, they returned 

 together to the highest perch of the cage. They passed four years 

 together in this state of confinement ; and, from their mutual attentions 

 •and satisfaction, it was evident that a strong affection for each other 

 had been excited. At the end of this period the female fell into a 

 .state of languor, which had every symptom of old age ; her legs 

 swelled, and knots appeared upon them, as if the disease had been of 

 the nature of gout. It was no longer possible for her to descend and 

 take her food as formerly ; but the male assiduously brought it to 

 her, carrying it in his bill, and delivering it into hers. He continued 

 to feed her in this manner, with the utmost vigilance, for four 

 months. The infirmities of his mate, however, increased every day; 

 and at length she became no longer able to sit upon the perch : she 

 remained now crouched at the bottom, and from time to time made a 

 few useless efforts to regain the lower perch ; while the male, who 

 remained close by her, seconded these feeble attempts with all his 

 power. Sometimes he seized with his bill the upper part of her 

 wing, to try to draw her up to him ; sometimes he took hold of her bill, 

 and attempted to raise her up, repeating his efforts for that purpose 

 several times. His countenance, his gestures, his continual solicitude ; 

 every thing, in short, indicated, in this affectionate bird, an ardent 

 desire to aid the weakness of his companion, and to alleviate her 

 sufferings. But the scene became still more interesting when the 

 female was at the point of expiring. Her unfortunate partner went 

 round and round her without ceasing ; he redoubled his assiduities 

 and his tender cares; he attempted to open her bill, in order to give 

 her nourishment; his emotion every instant increased; he went to 

 her, and returned with the most agitated air, and with the utmost in- 

 quietude: at intervals he uttered the most plaintive cries ; at othei 

 times, with his eyes fixed upon her, he preserved a sorrowful silence. 

 His faithful companion at length expired; he languished from *hat 

 time, and survived her only a few months. 

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