THE GRAY PARROT. 69 



' Fie, silly bird ! ' I answered, ' tuck 



Your head beneath your wing, 

 And go to sleep; ' — but o'er and o'er 

 He asked the self -same thing. 



Then, smiling, to myself I said : — 



How like are men and birds ! 

 We all are saying what he says, 



In action or in words." 



Whiftier. 



Gray Parrot, which, by its docility and affec- 

 tionate conduct towards those who treat it kindly, 

 and its wonderful power of imitating the human 

 voice, has, with all its awkwardness, a very strong 

 hold upon the human family. The very best spe- 

 cies of the parrot is the African, which has a fine 

 ashen-gray color, with a black bill, white face, and 

 scarlet tail. These birds, either male or female, 

 make excellent talkers : they can also be taught a 

 tune, which they will sing or whistle perfectly ; and 

 while they will seemingly forget many words and sen- 

 tences which they have once pronounced perfectly, 

 yet they never forget a song if it is once thoroughly 

 taught them. The next parrot in attractive quali- 

 ties is the green, with white over his bill. This 

 bird makes an excellent talker, is equally as docile 

 as the gray, and attains a great age. Another spe- 

 cies very much admired is the yellow-head parro:. 

 This, as well as several other varieties, is univer- 

 sally kept and admired. The parrot, like all other 

 birds, is liable to disease ; but with care it can be 

 kept in nearly perfect health. In order to take 



