90 



FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 



their appetites than their ears. The fowler walks 

 into the woods, where they keep in abundance, but 

 as they are green, and exactly the colour of the 

 leaves among which they sit, he only hears their 

 prattle, without being able to see a single bird; 

 he looks round him, sensible that his game is within 

 gun-shot in abundance, but is mortified to the last 

 degree that it is impossible to see them. Unfortu* 

 nately for these little animals, they are restless, and 

 ever on the wing, so that, in flying from one tree 

 to another, he has but too frequent opportunities of 

 destroying them ; for, as soon as they have stripped 

 the tree on which they sat of all its berries, some 

 one of them flies ofl* to another ; and if that be found 

 fit for the purpose, the bird gives a loud call, when 

 all the rest resort to it. That is the opportunity the 

 fowler has long been waiting for; he fires among 

 the flock, while they are yet on the wing, and 

 seldom fails of bringing down several of them. But 

 It is singular enough to see them when they find 

 their companions fallen. They set up a loud cry, 

 as if they were cliiding the destroyer, and do not 

 cease till they see him preparing for another charge. 



But though there are many motives for destroying 

 these beautiful birds, they are still plentiful in 

 various countries ; and in some places on the coast 

 of G uinea they are considered by the Negroes as 

 their greatest tormentors. The flocks of Parrots 

 persecute them with their unceasing screaming, and 

 devour whatever fruits they attempt to produce by 

 art in their little gardens. 



