1S92.] Butler on the Carolina Parrakeet. ^^ 



at such times a noisy racket was kept up till my return." 

 Another authority speaking of these same birds says: "If at 

 any time an accident happened to one of them, or one escaped 

 from confinement, the household, and neighborhood as well, was 

 aroused by their outcries. They would not be satisfied until the 

 escaped bird was found and returned, when quiet was restored." 



The Parrakeets are said by Prof. Collett to be very affectionate 

 in their wild state. It is said that when one of a flock was 

 wounded, the others gathered about, regardless of danger, and 

 made every eftbrt to render assistance to their unfortunate 

 comrade. They were very easily tamed. A crippled bird 

 seemed at once to be contented with the cabin to which it was 

 taken, and in a day's time would clamber over the clothing of its 

 captor and take food from his hand. 



As has been mentioned, the principal food of the Parrakeet was 

 'cuckle-burrs' or 'cockle-burrs' {Xanthijim canadense Mill.) 

 which grew abundantly on the river bottoms. So great was 

 their fondness for these burrs that everyone noticed it, and for 

 this destruction of weed seeds they were held in high regard by 

 farmers. They also ate pecans, acorns, beechnuts, haws, berries 

 of the black gum, persimmons, and hackberries. Next to cuckle- 

 burrs they preferred the last-mentioned food. In spring they 

 were very destructive in orchards, biting out the tender shoots and 

 eating the blossoms and young fruit. In summer and autumn 

 they lived largely on fruit and grain. Apples, grapes, and cher- 

 ries are especially mentioned. They were gregarious, moving 

 in flocks of from six to one hundred, and are said to have been as 

 common, in some localities, as Blackbirds (Bronzed Crackles). 

 They are said by one authority to have alighted on an apple tree 

 in such numbers as almost to cover it over. When the fruit 

 was ripe, sometimes the entire crop would be destroyed. Often 

 they seemed to destroy in a spirit of mischief. They would tear 

 ofl' apples and other fruits, and after taking a bite throw them to 

 the ground, and so continue. They tore off' the heads from 

 wheat stalks, and seemed to delight in throwing them away. 



The favorite haunts of these birds were along water courses 

 and about lakes and sloughs. Especially were they abundant in 

 the extensive bottom lands along the rivers. There it was that 

 cuckle-burrs grew most abundantly and there were always many 

 hollow trees suitable for their habitations. Seldom were they 

 found away from such surroundings. 



