232 THE PARROT. 



bough, they climb up a tree by the help of their toes 

 and beak, which they alternately fix into the bark, and, 

 by the aid of these, attain any eminence they please. 



The tongue of the parrot somewhat resembles that 

 of a man, which is assigned as a reason for the facility 

 of their speech ; though the organs, by which those 

 sounds are communicated, are known, in great mea- 

 sure, to be connected with the throat. The parrots 

 in France speak with greater clearness than those which 

 are in general to be met with here ; but this is to be 

 ascribed to the attention of the ladies, who generally 

 devote too much time to the instruction of these birds; 

 but, in the Brazils, they are allowed to articulate with 

 greater clearness than in any part of the known world. 



Though some of these birds are tough and ill-tasted, 

 yet the tribe of parakeets are very delicate food ; but 

 even the flavour of these is improved, or injured, ac- 

 cording to what they may happen to ate. When the 

 gnaver is ripe, they are in high season ; and, if they 

 feed upon the acajon-seed, they imbibe a garlic taste ; 

 if upon spices, the clove and cinnamon prevails : and 

 if upon berries, that are bitter, their flesh acquires 

 that unpleasant taste. s 



The parakeet of Brazil, is allowed to be the most 

 beautiful of the kind, and are so numerous that the 

 fowler can scarcely distinguish them from leaves ; and 

 did they not continually hop from tree to tree, he would 

 never be able to take an accurate aim. On the coast 

 of Guinea they are likewise in great abundance, and 

 annoy the inhabitants with continual screams : travel- 

 lers have asserted, that, on the continent of Africa, au 

 hundred different kinds of the parrot may be seen. 



There is a peculiar disease attached to these birds, 

 greatly resembling an apoplective fit, which occasions 



