CAROLINA PARROT. 161 



familiar with each other through the medium of Poll. On ar- 

 riving at Mr. Dunbar's, below Natchez, I procured a cage, and 

 placed it under the piazza, where by its call it soon attracted 

 the passing flocks, such is the attachment they have for each 

 other. Numerous parties frequently alighted on the trees im- 

 mediately above, keeping up a constant conversation with the 

 prisoner. One of these I wounded slightly in the wing, and the 

 pleasure Poll expressed on meeting with this new companion 

 was really amusing. She crept close up to it, as it hung on the 

 side of the cage, chattered to it in a low tone of voice, as if 

 sympathizing in its misfortune, scratched about its head and 

 neck with her bill; and both at night nestled as close as possible 

 to each other, sometimes Poll's head being thrust among the 

 plumage of the other. On the death of this companion, she ap- 

 peared restless and inconsolable for several days. On reaching 

 New Orleans, I placed a looking-glass beside the place where 

 she usually sat, and the instant she perceived her image, all her 

 former fondness seemed to return, so that she could scarcely 

 absent herself from it a moment. It was evident that she was 

 completely deceived. Always when evening drew on, and often 

 during the day, she laid her head close to that of the image in 

 the glass, and began to doze with great composure and satisfac- 

 tion. In this short space she had learnt to know her name; to 

 answer and come when called on; to climb up my clothes, sit 

 on my shoulder, and eat from my mouth. I took her with me to 

 sea, determined to persevere in her education; but, destined to 

 another fate, poor Poll, having one morning about day-break 

 wrought her way through the cage, while I was asleep, instantly 

 flew overboard, and perished in the gulf of Mexico. 



The Carolina, or Illinois Parrot, (for it has been described 

 under both these appellations) is thirteen inches long, and twen- 

 ty-one in extent; forehead and cheeks orange red; beyond this, 

 for an inch and a half, down and round the neck, a rich and 

 pure yellow; shoulder and bend of the wing also edged with 

 rich orange red; the general colour of the rest of the plumage 



is a bright yellowish silky green, with light blue reflections, 

 VOL. i. z z 



