66 MORE ABOUT THE PARROT. 



perfect, and can say them correctly. He will 

 even talk in his sleep. 



This power of imitation in the bird is very 

 curious, if we take the trouble to think about 

 it. His abode is far away from man, and it is 

 only by chance that the faculty is awakened. 

 But there it is, ready to develop itself at any 

 moment. 



The Indians make a trade of catching Parrots. 

 Most of those you see in England were taken 

 from the nest, and never knew what it was to be 

 free. The younger the bird, the easier his edu- 

 cation will be. 



The Indian goes into the forest, and takes 

 some little arrows with blunt points. He only 

 wants to stun the birds, and is anxious not to 

 injure them. He will often try another plan. 

 He will make a fire under the tree, using for 

 fuel a plant, the smoke of which has a strong 

 pungent smell. The poor little birds are stupified 

 with the smoke, and fall to the ground. Then 

 the Indian picks them up, and carries them away. 



But, now and then, he has rather an unruly cap- 



