T H E P I E K I N D. 59 



but in thefe (and in one or two fpecies of the feathered tribe more) the 

 upper chap is connefted to the bone of the head by a ftrong membrane, 

 placed on each fide, that lifts and deprcfles it at pleafure. By this con- 

 trivance, they can open their bills the wider, to great advantage, as the 

 upper chap is fo hooked and over-hanging, that, if the lower only had 

 motion, they could fcarce gapefufficiently to take their nouriflimenr. 



Thefe birds cannot readily hop from bough to bough (their legs not 

 being adapted), but ufe both the beak and feet; firfl: catching hold with 

 the beak, then drawing up the legs and faftening them, then projedling 

 the beak again, and then the feet, till they have completed their 

 progrefs. 



The tongue fomewhat refembles that of man j but the organs by which 

 founds are articulated lie farther down in the throat, to which contributes 

 the great motion which the os hyoides has in thefe birds. 



The parrot, though common in Europe, rarely breeds here ; and 

 though it bears our winter when arrived at maturity, yet lofes both its 

 fpirit and appetite during the colder part of the feafon, and feems quite 

 changed from that buftling loquacious animal which it appeared in its 

 native forefts. 



A parrot at firft obftinately refills inftruction j but is won by perfe- 

 verance j attempts to imitate the firfl founds, and when it has got one 

 v.ord diftinftly, the fucceeding come with greater facility. 



The parrot, called Aicurous (an Amazon), the head of which is yellow, 

 red, and violet, the body green, the end of the wings red, the tail long 

 and yellow, is afierted by Clufius to be a prodigy of underftanding. ** A 

 Brafilian woman had a parrot of this kind, which was the wonder of the 

 place. As we paflfed by her houfe, fhe ufed to call us to ftop, promifing, 

 if we gave her a comb, or a looking-glafs, fhe would make her parrot fing 

 and dance to entertain us. If we agreed, as foon as fhe had pronounced 

 fome words to the bird, it began not only to leap and ikip on the perch on 

 which it flood, but alfo to talk and to whiftle, and imitate the fhoutings 

 and exclamations of the Brafilians when they prepare for battle j if the 

 woman bid it to fing, it fang j if to dance, it danced. But if, contrary to 

 our promife, we refufed payment, the parrot fcemed to fympathize in her 

 refentment, was filent and immovable ; neither could we, by any means, 

 provoke it to move either foot or tongue.'* 



As thofe birds have the greateft docility that are taken young, a nefl is 

 Confidered as worth taking fome trouble to be poflTeflTed of j the ufual 

 method is, by cutting down the tree. The old are flioc in the woods 



Part IV. No. 26. L with 



