94 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 



The geographical distribution of Parrots, is 

 probably more extensive than is usually supposed. 

 The Carolina Parrot, plate first of this work, has 

 been ascertained by Latham to inhabit Guinea, and 

 to migrate as far north as Carolina and Virginia in 

 autumn. Bertram observes, that it is never known ^ 

 to reach so far north as Pennsylvania, abounding 

 in all those fruits in which it delights. This is 

 singular, as it is a bird of very rapid flight, and 

 could easily perform the journey in ten or twelve 

 hours from North Carolina. Buffon confines the 

 geographical range to twenty-five degrees on each 

 side of the equator ; but the fallacy of this 

 opinion is clearly demonstrated by the observations 

 of travellers of undoubted authority. We are 

 informed, that two sorts were seen about Trinity 

 Harbour, in the South Seas, latitude forty-one 

 degrees seven minutes. Dr Foster met with two 

 kinds as low as Port Famine, in the Straits oi 

 Magellan, latitude 'fifty-three degrees forty-four 

 minutes south, where their food must have beens 

 buds and berries, the forests being frequently bounded; 

 by mountains covered with eternal snow. The 

 Calita Parrakeet, according to the account of Drj 

 Gillies, is very abundant in the neighbourhood oi 

 the post-houses of Las Calitas, so named in conse- 

 quence of these birds being so plentiful there. Thigi 

 place is in the province of Mendoza, and is situated 

 about ninety miles to the eastward of the town of that 

 name, which seems to be the western boundary oi 

 their geographical range, and they aro foimd as fail 



