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THE COMMON ASH-COLORED PARROT. 



THE COMMON ASH-COLORED PARROT. 



THE COMMON ASH-COLORED PARROT. 



This Parrot is somewhat larger than a Pigeon ; and, includiag thfl 

 tail measures about twenty inches in 

 length. The bill is black ; the cere, and 

 the skin round the eyes, are mealy and 

 white. The plumage is chiefly ash- 

 colored : the rump and lower part of 

 the belly are hoary, with ash-colored 

 edges: the feathers on the head, neck, 

 and under parts, are hoary on their 

 edges. The tail is of a bright red 

 color, having the shafts of the feathers 

 blackish. The legs are ash-colored, and 

 the claws blackish. 



It is a native of Guinea, and of 

 several of the inland parts of Africa. 



This well-known species is that 

 which is now most commonly brought 

 into Europe. It is superior to most 

 others, both in the facility, and the 

 eagerness with which it imitates the 

 human voice; it listens with attention, and strives to repeat; it 

 dwells constantly on some syllables which it has heard, and seeks to 

 surpass every voice by the loudness of its own. We are often 

 surprised by its repeating words or sounds which were never taughn 

 it, and which it could scarcely be supposed to have noticed. It 

 seems to prescribe to itself tasks, and tries every day to retain its 

 lesson. This engages its attention even in sleep ; and, according to 

 Marcgrave, it prattles in its dreams. Its memory, if early cultivated, 

 becomes sometimes astonishing. Ehodiginus mentions a Parrot 

 which could recite correctly the whole of the Apostles' Creed. 



A Parrot which Colonel O'Kelly bought for a hundred guineas at 

 Bristol, not only repeated a great number of sentences, but answered 

 many questions : it was also able to whistle many tunes. It beat time 

 with all the appearance of science ; and so accurate was its judgment 

 that, if by chance it mistook a note, it would revert to the bar where 

 the mistake was made, correct itself, and still beating regular time, 

 go through the whole with wonderful exactness. Its death was thus 

 anounced in the General Evening Post for the ninth of October, 

 1802 : " A few days ago died, in Half-moon-street, Piccadilly, the 

 celebrated Parrot of Colonel O'Kelly. This singular bird sang 

 number of songs in perfect time and tune. She could express htl 

 wants articulately, and give her orders in a manner approaching 

 nearly to rationality. Her age was not known ; it was, however, 

 more than thirty years, for previously to that period, Mr. O'Kelly 

 bought her at Bristol for a hundred guineas. The Colonel was re- 

 peatedly oflered five hundred guineas a year for the bird, by persons 



