254 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



to make more trials were frustrated. The price of the birds ($20), 

 too, had a soothing effect upon nay shallow purse; for, to tell the 

 truth, I felt terribly like photographing this pair of pretty little 

 green rascals with uiy shotgun, upon more occasions than one. 

 As it was they were returned to their owner at an unfortunate 

 time, for a number of his cages had been repainted, and to one of 

 these the paroquets were consigned. During the night they botli 

 nibbled off a quantity of the fresh paint, which proved a fatal 

 dose. 



A number of years ago I published in London an account of 

 the skeleton of this paroquet, illustrating my work with litho- 

 graphic plates; but so far as 1 know, the other systems of its an- 

 atomy have not been touched upon. It is not likely, of course, 

 that its structure departs very much from other representatives 

 of the genus; still, this supposition should have no weight, and 

 its anatomy should be fully described ere the species becomes 

 totally extinct. There have frequently been morphological sur- 

 prises, even iu closely allied forms, and to this our Carolina paro- 

 quet may offer no exception. As usual, only skins were made of 

 this pair, and " the characters thrown away." Many skins of 

 the form are now to be found in museums, and perhaps a few 

 alcoholic specimens are in existence. 



It is exceedingly interesting to read the admirable account of 

 this species left us by Wilson, to whom the bird was also known 

 as the " Illinois Parrot." He writes without a shadow of sus- 

 picion as to the utter extinction that awaited the species in our 

 time. He speaks of it as being resident as far west as he knew 

 the country, and as far north in one direction as Lake Michigan, 

 adding," from these circumstances of the northern residence of 

 this species, we might be justified in concluding it to be a very 

 hardy bird, more capable of sustaining cold than nine-tenths of its 

 tribe; and so I believe it is, — having myself seen them, in the 

 month of February, along the banks of the Ohio, in a snowstorm, 

 flying about like pigeons, and in full cry." Wilson also very viv- 

 idly describes the immense flocks of them he met with at Big 

 Bone Lick in Kentucky, where, when " they alighted on the 

 ground, it appeared at a distance as if covered with a carpet of 

 the richest green, orange, and yellow." Their beautiful, swift, and 

 graceful flight he refers to with great truthfulness; and speaking 

 of this reminds me of what Mr. Robert Rirtgway, the ornitholo- 

 gist, told me not very long ago. He had met with a Hock of these 



