414 



THE GKAY PAKROT. 



came the sudden half-frightened bark as the beast found itself in un- 

 expected danger, and then the loud shriek of pain, followed by the 

 series of howls that is popularly termed " pen and ink." Lastly, the 

 howls grew fainter as the dog was supposed to be limping away, and 

 you really seemed to hear him turn the corner and retreat into the dis- 

 tance. The memory of the bird must have been most tenacious, and 

 its powers of observation far beyond the common order, for he could 

 nut have bec-u witness to such a canine accident more than once. 



The Gray Parrot {Psittacus erythacus). 



The food of this parrot consists chiefly of seeds of various kinds, and 

 in captivity may be varied to some extent. Hemp-seed, grain, canary- 

 seed, and the cones of fir trees are favorite articles of diet. Of the 

 cones it is especially fond, nibbling them to pieces when they are young 

 and tender, but when they are old and ripe breaking awav the hard 

 scales and scooping out the seeds with its very ^useful tongue. Haw- 

 thorn-berries are very good for the Parrot, as are several vegetables. 



