THE PARROT. 63 



scream, and make a great noise. Then they all 

 fly into the sunshine, and settling on the top of 

 a tree, begin to dress their plumage, which is 

 rather damp with the dews of night. They next 

 look about for their breakfasts ; and this is gene- 

 rally the wild-cherry, or some other fruit. They 

 break the stones with their strong bills, and pick 

 out the kernels and eat them. Then they go in 

 quest of clear water to bathe in ; and this they 

 seem to enjoy very much indeed. They roll over 

 and over, and play about like children on the 

 edge of the pool, and dip their heads and wings 

 into the water, so as to scatter it all over their 

 plumage. By this time the sun is getting hot, 

 and they retire to the deep recesses of the forest, 

 where it is always cool and shady. They give 

 over screaming and chattering, and settle them- 

 selves on the boughs for a nap. And then the 

 silence is so deep you might hear a leaf drop to 

 the ground, although the trees overhead are 

 crowded with Parrots. 



But the stillness only lasts through the noon- 

 tide heat. In the .evening the Parrots wake up, 



