144 INSESSORES. 
snow-white or roseate plumage of the Cockatoos. It 
is almost impossible for us to form any adequate con- 
ception of the extreme gracefulness and beauty of 
these birds when enjoying the freedom of their na- 
tive forests; and although their colors may be con- 
sidered by many as too gaudy, and presenting too 
many abrupt and striking contrasts to yield to the 
eye that degree of pleasure which a softer blending 
is apt to convey, yet we think that few can gaze upon 
the multiplicity of their forms, and the richness and 
diversity of their gorgeous tints, without regarding 
them as one of the most wonderful and beautiful 
families of the whole feathered race. 
One of the most singular faculties of the Parrots, 
— which, however, does not belong to the whole 
tribe, —is that of imitating the human voice, and 
learning by rote, words and sentences, which they 
will sometimes repeat upon very appropriate occa- 
sions, giving the impression that they are really 
aware of their meaning. ‘This power is possessed 
principally by the short, even-tailed, and less gor- 
geously colored species. 
The following interesting account of a remarkable 
bird, probably the Grey African Parrot,which possesses 
the greatest imitative powers, is from Gosse’s “ Natu- 
ral History of Birds.” It is an extract from a letter 
to a gentleman from the sister of its owner: 
‘“‘As you wished me to write down whatever I could 
recollect about my sister’s wonderful Parrot, I pro- 
ceed to do so, only premising that I will tell you no- 
thing but what I can vouch for having myself heard. 
