ORDER SCANSORES. 56l 



ligaments, and other less succulent parts. From feeding thus, 

 some parrots contract the habit of plucking out their own fea- 

 thers, that they may suck the stem ; and this becomes so im- 

 perious a want with them, that they strip their bodies abso- 

 lutely naked, not leaving a vestige of down wherever the bill 

 can reach. They spare, however, the quills of the wings and 

 tail, the plucking out of which would cause them too much 

 pain. M. Desmarest mentions an instance of one of these birds 

 belonging to M. Latreille, the body of which thus- became as 

 naked as that of a pullet plucked for roasting. This bird, 

 notwithstanding, supported the rigour of two very severe win- 

 ters, without the slightest alteration of health or appetite. M. 

 Vieillot observes, that this habit of deplumation is produced, 

 in many parrots, by an itching of the skin, and not in conse- 

 quence of their being accustomed to eat animal substances. 



The parrots drink little, but often, and do it raising up the 

 head, but less strongly than other birds. The major portion 

 of them may be accustomed, in domestication, to drink wine, 

 or, at all events, to eat bread which has been steeped in wine. 

 They all use, with great dexterity, one of their feet, to carry 

 their food to their bills, while they stand perched on the other. 

 These birds sojourn much on the borders of streams and 

 rivers, and in marshy places. They are fond of the water, 

 and seem to take the greatest delight in bathing themselves, 

 an operation which they perform several times a-day, when in 

 a state of nature. When they have bathed, they shake their 

 plumage, until the greatest portion of the water is expelled, 

 and then expose themselves to the sun, until their feathers are 

 completely dried. In captivity, and even during the most 

 rigorous seasons, they seek to bathe ; aiid, at all events, plunge 

 the head repeatedly into water. 



With the exception of the time of incubation, the parrots 

 live in flocks, more or less numerous ; go to sleep at the set- 

 ting, and awake at the rising of the sun. In sleep, they turn 



VOL. VII. o o 



