293 LETTER XLVI 



-tail are of a deeper green, and mottled with a variety 

 of colours. 



As I am apprehensive of tiring ^ou with the length 

 of my letter, I shall, out of the immense variety 

 which nature displays, endeavour to select a few 

 choice subjects to enliven our future correspondence, 

 and for the present conclude, with subscribing my- 

 self, 



I)ear Sir, 



Your's, fee. 



LETTER XLVL 



" The parrot learns to emulate onr speech/' 

 Hark ! the hoarse pigeon tunes his notes 10 love," 



JEAR SIR, 



It- HE objects which lam now going to present, to 

 your view, are some of the most curious which thp 

 feathered part of the ereatitm affords. They will irre- 

 sistibly attract your attention, and excite your admi- 

 ration of the splendor of nature's works, 



THE PARROT, 



is, of nil foreign birds, the best known in this eotm* 

 try; and has always been held in estimation by th$ 

 Curious, as it possesses the singular advantage of unit- 

 ing transcendent beauty with superiority of instinct 

 and astonishing docility. 



The facility with which this bird learns not only to 

 speak, but to retain arid repeat a great number of 

 words, is surprising. We are assured that a parrot 

 lias been taught to rehearse a whole sonnet from Pe- 

 trafr.li. 



Many wonderful stories have been related of this 

 creature's sagacity and loquaciousness, among-which 

 I shall, for your amusement, select one, which appears 

 so singular, that it would never have obtained credit, 

 had it not been sanctioned by respectable authority. 



Willoughby tells us> that a parrot belonging to 



