CAROLINA PARROT. 163 



of plumage. A number of these birds, in all their grades of 

 progressive change from green to yellow, have been deposited 

 in Peale's museum. 



What is called by Europeans the Illinois Parrot, (Psittacus 

 pertinax) is evidently the young bird in its imperfect colours. 

 Whether the present species be found as far south as Brasil, as 

 these writers pretend, I am unable to say; but from the great 

 extent of country in which I have myself killed and examined 

 these birds, I am satisfied that the present species, now described, 

 is the only one inhabiting the United States. 



Since the foregoing was written, I have had an opportunity, 

 by the death of a tame Carolina Paroquet, to ascertain the fact 

 of the poisonous effects of their head and intestines on cats. 

 Having shut up a cat and her two kittens, (the latter only a few 

 days old, ) in a room with the head, neck, and whole intestines 

 of the Paroquet, I found on the next morning the whole eaten, 

 except a small part of the bill. The cat exhibited no symptom 

 of sickness; and at this moment, three days after the experiment 

 has been made, she and her kittens are in their usual health. 

 Still, however, the effect might have been different, had the 

 daily food of the bird been cockle burrs, instead of Indian corn. 



Note From Mr. T. Peale, who was attached to the expe- 

 dition commanded by Major Long, I learn, that during the 

 time the party wintered at Engineer Cantonment, nearly eight 

 hundred miles up the Missouri, they observed this species, at 

 various periods, from the beginning of December, until the mid- 

 dle of February, although the thermometer (Fahrenheit) once 

 sunk as low as 22 below zero. Mr. Peale is of opinion that the 

 Paroquet migrates rather in quest of food, than in consequence 

 of the cold. Being, like the wild Pigeon, a bird of vigorous 

 wing, and of a roving disposition, a journey of a few hundred 

 miles can occasion it but a very little trouble. G. Ord. 



