94 THE PARROT. 



gether in flocks, and generally breed in hollow 

 trees, where they make a round hole for the 

 accommodation of their young; but do not 

 take the trouble of lining it within. The fe- 

 male lays two or three eggs, about the size 

 of those of a pigeon, and marked with little 

 specks. The natives are very assiduous in 

 seeking out their nests, and usually take them 

 by cutting down the tree. By this means, in- 

 deed, the young Parrots are liable to be killed ; 

 but if one of them survive, it is considered as 

 a sufficient recompense. The old ones are 

 shot with heavy arrows headed with cotton, 

 which knock them down without killing them. 



The facility with which the Parrot is taught 

 to speak, and the great number of sentences it 

 is capable of repeating, are equally surprising. 

 But its agreeable qualities are counterbalanced 

 by the mischievous inclination it has to gnaw 

 whatever it can reach. 



The food commonly given to these birds 

 consists of hemp seed, nuts, fruits of every 

 kind, and bread soaked in wine ; they would 



