104 



THE CAROLINA PARROT. 



regard for the seeds of the fruit, which they are 

 supposed to be in pursuit of. I have known a 

 flock of these birds alight on an apple tree, and 

 have myself seen them twist off the fruit, one by 

 one, strewing it in every direction around the tree, 

 without observing that any of the depredators 

 descended to pick them up." 



Audubon describes the depredations of these 

 birds, in orchards and gardens, as being very great 

 He says, " They alight in great numbers, and, as 

 through mere mischief, pluck off the fruits, open 

 them to the core, and, disappointed at the sight of 

 the seeds, which are yet soft, and of a milky con- 

 sistence, drop the apple or pear, and pluck another, j 

 passing from branch to branch, until the trees 

 which were before so promising, are left completely 

 stripped. They visit the mulberries, pecaw-nuts, 

 grapes, and even the seeds of the dog-wood, before 

 they are ripe, and on all commit similar depreda- j 

 tions. The stacks of grain put up in the field, are 

 resorted to by these birds, which frequently cover 

 them so entirely, that they present to the eye the 

 same effect as if a brilliantly coloured carpet had ■ 

 been thrown over them. They cling around the 

 whole stack, pull out the straws, and destroy twice 

 as much of the grain as would sufficiently satisfy 

 their hunger. The maize alone never attracts their 

 notice. During these depredations, the husband- 

 men approach them very easily, and destroy great 

 numbers. All the survivors rise, shriek, fly round 

 about for a few minutes, and again alight on the ■ 



