THE PARROT. 



395 



One in robes of rich purple, of azure, and gold- 

 Such, the eye became dazzled its tints to behold ; 



Diemeu's Land, and on the Ohio. Although it lives in temperate 

 climates it does not frequently breed there. It is remarkable 

 too in this race of birds, that those in the new world are totally 

 distinct from those of the old ; a proof that the Parrot has not 

 great powers of flight; indeed, it is said, that several islands in 

 the West Indies have their peculiar Parrots, they not being 

 able to fly from one island to another. They are, in their na- 

 tive climates, the most numerous of the feathered tribes. 



It will be impossible in this note to do justice to the genus; I must, 

 therefore, content myself with a summary of their most striking 

 characteristics ; parrots are, besides, so extremely well known 

 in this country, that a long description of them is rendered for 

 this reason much less necessary ; their power of imitating the 

 human voice, and other sounds, is well known ; but it may be 

 observed that almost all the sounds which they utter, at least 

 those which they utter in this countiy, are extremely harsh and 

 discordant ; and for a long continuance very disagreeable. 



The beauty of their plumage has always and deservedly been 

 much admired. They are, however, so various in size as well as 

 in colours, that it would be endless to recount their numerous 

 gradations. 



" The Parrots swung like blossoms on the trees." 



Montgomery's Pelican Island. 



In its wild state, the parrot feeds on almost every kind of fruit 

 and grain; but, of all food, it is said to be the fondest of carthamus, 

 or bastard saffron, which, though strongly purgative to man, 

 agrees with it very well. It is liable to various diseases ; many of 

 them are said to die of epilepsy ; it is, nevertheless, very long 

 lived ; some have attained the age of sixty years, or more; from 

 twenty to thirty years is their more common period of existence, 



