MORE ABOUT THE PARROT. 71 



But the farmer is not likely to sit still and 

 see all this mischief go on under his eyes. He 

 takes his gun, and walks into the orchard. The 

 Parrots have overcome their shyness, and are 

 eagerly devouring the fruit, passing from branch 

 to branch, too much occupied to notice him. 

 He begins to shoot, and down drops a Parrot, 

 its bill full of seeds. The rest of the birds seem 

 to lose their senses. They scream, and fly round 

 and round, and are in a great commotion ; but 

 they never think of leaving the orchard, although 

 the gun keeps going off every minute. They 

 return to the fruit, even though their companions 

 lie dead on the ground. Indeed, the farmer goes 

 on shooting, until he begins to think he has used 

 as much powder and shot as he can afford. 



