CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE CAROLINA PAROQUET AND OTHER NOTES. 



(Conurus carolinensis.) 



E have but one species of paroquet iu the avifauna of 

 the United States the pretty little green Carolina 

 paroquet, with its red and yellow head. Formerly 

 this bird had a very general distribution all over the 

 eastern part of the country, from Texas and Colorado to the At- 

 lantic coast line. It is at the present time, however, nearly ex- 

 tinct, being confined to extremely local areas in Florida, Indian 

 Territory, and Arkansas. 



This killing off of one of our most beautiful birds has been al- 

 most entirely due to man's agency, and in a few years more not a 

 living specimen of this species will be in existence. It seems 

 quite incredible that this slaughter should have occurred in so 

 short a space of time, especially when one comes to read of its 

 great former abundance in the very interesting account left us 

 by Wilson and others. Not long ago a beautiful pair ( $ and 9 ) 

 of those paroquets came into ithe possession of Edward T. 

 Schmid, the proprietor of the well-known bird emporium of 

 Washington, P. C., who, with marked generosity, permitted me to 

 take them out to my home for the purpose of making photo- 

 graphs of them. The birds were in beautiful plumage, fine 

 health, and in full possession of their powers of flight. After 

 studying their cage habits for a few days, I made my prepara- 

 tions to take their pictures. 



In life these paroquets are extremely fond of the seeds of ilie 

 plant commonly known as the cocklebur (Xanthlum strunmrium. 

 Linn.), and I was determined to secure my photographs with the 

 birds shown upon a specimen of it. Without much difficulty ex- 

 amples were found growing in vacant lots about Washington, 

 and a good big bunch brought to my studio. At the outstarl, 

 however, I had no idea of the trouble that was before me ere I 

 succeeded in securing even a passable picture of these birds. 

 But my stock of patience is great, and my enthusiasm unlimited, 

 when the subject happens to be a form so near extinction as is 

 this bird. There is a certain fascination that irresistibly con- 

 trols the student of nature when he appreciates the fact that he 



