THE CAROLINA PARROT. 81 



down and round the neck, a rich and pure yellow } shouldei 

 %nd bend of the wing, also edged with rich ci^^nge red. The 

 general colour of the rest of the plumage is a bright yel- 

 lowish, silky green with light blue reflections ; feet a pale 

 flesh-colour; bill white, inclining to cream-colour. It is 

 found in the Southern and Western States. 



ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. 



Mr. Wilson gives the following very lively account of the 

 -captive state of one of these birds : — 



Anxious to try the effects of education on one of those 

 jfhich I had procured at Big Bone Lick, and which was 

 but slightly wounded in the wing^ I fixed up a place for it 

 n the stern of my boat, and presented it with some cockle 

 burs, which it freely fed on in less than an hour after being 

 on board. The intermediate time between eating and 

 3leeping was occupied in gnawing the sticks that formed its 

 place of confinement, in order to make a practicable breach ; 

 nrhich it repeatedly effected. When I abandoned the river, 

 and travelled by land, I wrapped it up closely in a silk 

 handkerchief, tying it tightly around, and carried it in my 

 pocket. 



When I stopped for refreshment, I unbound my prisoner, 

 »nd gave it its allowance, which it generally despatched 

 with great dexterity, unhusking the seeds from the bur in 

 t twinkling; in doing which, it always employed its left 

 foot to hold the bur, as did several others that I kept foi 



