42 ITS HABITS. 



are by far more varied.* During four months 

 of the year, from May to August, it moults. 

 It washes itself regularly twice daily, and after 

 having performed its ablutions, throws its deli- 

 cate feathers up nearly over the head, the quills 

 of which feathers have a peculiar structure, so 

 as to enable the bird to effect this object. Its food, 

 during confinement, is boiled rice, mixed up with 

 soft egg, together with plantains, and living in- 

 sects of the grasshopper tribe ; these insects when 

 thrown to him, the bird contrives to catch in its 

 beak with great celerity ; it will eat insects 

 in a living state, but will not touch them when 

 dead. 



I observed the bird, previously to eating a 

 grasshopper, given him in an entire or unmuti- 

 lated state, place the insect upon the perch, keep it 

 firmly fixed with the claws, and, divesting it of the 

 legs, wings, &c., devour it, with the head always 

 placed first. The servant who attends upon him 

 to clean the cage, give him food, &c., strips off the 

 legs, wings, &c., of the insects when alive, 

 giving them to the bird as fast as he can devour 

 them. It rarely alights upon the ground, and 



* It has been stated, that during flight they cry hke 

 starhngs. 



