CAROLINA PAROQUET. 43 I 



length only hastily aroused to forage at the calls of hunger. 

 Indeed, from the swiftness and celerity of their aerial move- 

 ments, darting through the gleaming sunshine like so many 

 sylvan cherubs decked in green and gold, it is obvious that 

 their actions as well as their manners are not calculated for 

 any long endurance ; and shy and retiring from all society but 

 that to which they are inseparably wedded, they rove abroad 

 with incessant activity until their wants are gratified, when, hid 

 from sight, they again relapse into that indolence which seems 

 a relief to their exertions. 



The Carolina Parrot is readily tamed, and early shows an 

 attachment to those around who bestow any attention on its 

 wants ; it soon learns to recollect its name and to answer and 

 come when called on. It does not, however, evince much, if 

 any, capacity for mimicking human speech or sounds of any 

 kind, and as a domestic is very peaceable and rather taciturn. 

 It is extremely fond of nuts and almonds, and may be sup- 

 ported on the vegetable food usually given to other species. 

 One which I saw at Tuscaloosa, a week after being disabled in 

 the wing, seemed perfectly reconciled to its domestic condi- 

 tion ; and as the weather was rather cold, it remained the 

 greater part of the time in the house, climbing up the sides of 

 the wire fender to enjoy the warmth of the fire. I was in- 

 formed that when first caught it scaled the side of the room 

 at night, and rocsted in a hanging posture by the bill and 

 claws ; but finding the labor difficult and fruitless, having no 

 companion near which to nestle, it soon submitted to pass the 

 night on the back of a chair. 



I fear that the story of this gorgeously apparalled bird is nearly 

 finished. It is not quite exterminated yet, but of the large flocks 

 that were once to be seen all over the Southern States, only a mere 

 remnant can be found, and these are hidden amid the dense 

 swamps of central Florida and along the lower valley of the Mis- 

 sissippi. The farmers and fruit-growers were obliged to kill large 

 numbers, and later woman's vanity and man's greed have joined 

 hands to carry on the slaughter. From the combined attack of 

 such foes the remnant has but shght chance for escape. 



