45 



Of all the foreign birds, the Parrot is best known 

 in this country, and is most admired, nor without 

 reason, as it unites the greatest beauty with the 

 greatest docility. Its voice more exactly resembles 

 the human than that of any other bird, and is capable 

 of numerous modulations, which even the tones of 

 man cannot reach. The facility with which this bird 

 is taught to speak, and the degree of memory which 

 it possesses, are not a little surprising. So numerous 

 are the stories respecting the loquacious faculty of the 

 Parrot, that they would fill a volume. Parrots are 

 uncommonly numerous in the tropical climates : the 

 forests swarm with them, and the beauty of their plu- 

 mage, though not their natural voice, adds a degree 

 of vivacity to the loveliest of scenes. Though the 

 Parrot is commonly domesticated in Europe, it will 

 not breed here on account of the cold. It indeed can 

 survive our cold winter, but its spirits and appetite 

 are both visibly affected by severe weather. It then 

 becomes torpid and inactive, and seems quite changed 

 from that bustling bird which it appears beneath a 

 more genial sky. Nevertheless, with proper atten- 

 tion, it will live a number of years under the protec- 

 tion of man. The extreme sagacity and docility of 

 this bird forms the only apology that can be made for 

 the time which is spent in teaching it to talk. At 

 first it obstinately resists all instruction, but seems to 

 be won by perseverance ; makes a few attempts to 

 imitate the first sounds, and, when it has once ac- 

 quired the articulation of one word distinctly, the rest 

 of the lesson is generally learned! with great ease. 

 The sagacity and docility, however, which Parrots 

 shew in a domestic state, seem also natural to them 

 in their residence among the woods. They live toge- 

 ther in flocks, and mutually assist each other against 

 their enemies, either by their courage or their notes 



