BIRDS. 



533 



Our Carolina parakeet is the only parrot in the United States, and this 

 is apparently on the road to extinction. Years ago it had a wide range, 

 and was abundant in localities where for fift} T years not an individual has 

 been seen. It was always a southern bird, but in 1790 a flock appeared in 

 January near Albany, N.Y., creating the greatest consternation among 

 the inhabitants, who believed it the portent of some disaster. They have 

 appeared in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, in some in- 





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Fig. 439. — Carolina parakeet (Conarus Caroline nsis). 



stances Avithin very recent years, but on our east coast their range has 

 been greatly limited. To-day the name Carolina parakeet is a misnomer ; 

 for they hardly occur at all in that state where once they were so abun- 

 dant. It is still abundant in Florida, but its fate there is a mere question 

 of time. Mr. Allen in 1871 wrote : '■'Hundreds are captured every winter 

 on the lower St. Johns by professional bird-catchers, and sent to northern 

 cities. Thousands of others are destroyed wantonly by sportsmen. Con- 

 cerning the needless slaughter Mr. Boarclman thus writes : ' The little 



