PERCHING B1KDS. 233 



rots, (two of the Amazon, and eleven of the 

 Carolina breed,) entirely at liberty, but fed at 

 regular hours, much in the same way as pigeons. 

 They are very hardy, and remain abroad all day, 

 and, during the summer, at night also ; in the 

 winter sheltering within doors ; though even in 

 the severest weather flying abroad for at least a 

 part of the day. During the autumn, they feed 

 themselves entirely on beech-nuts and acorns. 

 They are described as very tame and sociable, and 

 much improved in health and plumage since they 

 have been allowed to go at large. 



Mr. J. H. Grurney has communicated to the 

 same periodical, a very curious incident observed 

 by himself, while visiting the Zoological Gardens, 

 in Eegent's Park, in 1850. He saw inhabiting 

 the same cage, a very large white cockatoo and a 

 much smaller green parrot. The parrot being 

 offered a nut, took it ; but, without endeavouring 

 to crack it himself, he immediately carried it to 

 the cockatoo, and transferred it from its own bill 

 to the more powerful one of his neighbour, who 

 forthwith cracked it, and then divided the kernel ; 

 swallowing half himself and honestly returning 

 the remainder to the parrot. This was repeated 

 at least half-a-dozen times. 



