THE PIE KIND. 



that our naturalists have attempted to arrange the 

 various species of this bird ; new varieties daily 

 offer to puzzle the system-maker, or to demon- 

 strate the narrowness of his catalogues. Linnaeus 

 makes the number of its varieties amount to forty- 

 seven ; while Brisson doubles the number, and 

 extends his catalogue to ninety-five. Perhaps 

 even this list might be increased, were every ac- 

 cidental change of colour to be considered as 

 constituting a new species. But, in fact, natural 

 history gains little by these discoveries ; and as 

 its dominions are extended, it becomes more bar- 

 ren. It is asserted by sensible travellers, that the 

 natives of Brasil can change the colour of a par- 

 rot's plumage by art. If this be true, and I am 

 apt to believe the information, they can make 

 new species at pleasure, and thus cut out endless 

 work for our nomenclators at home. 



Those who usually bring these birds over, are 

 content to make three or four distinctions, to 

 which they give names ; and with these distinc- 

 tions I will content myself also. The large kind, 

 which are of the size of a raven, are called Mac- 

 caws ; the next size are simply called Parrots ; 

 those which are entirely white are called Lories ; 

 and the lesser size of all are called Parakeets. 

 The difference between even these is rather in the 

 size than in any other peculiar conformation, as 

 they are all formed alike, having toes, two before 

 and two behind, for climbing and holding ; strong 

 hooked bills for breaking open nuts, and other 

 hard substances, on which they feed j and loud 



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