THE CAROLINA PARROT. 



107 



companions, and again settled on a low tree, within 

 twenty yards of the spot where I stood. At each 

 successive discharge, though showers of them fell, 

 yet the affection of the survivors seemed rather to 

 increase ; for, after a few circuits around the place, 

 they again alighted near me, looking down on their 

 slaughtered companions with such manifest symp- 

 toms of sympathy and concern, as entirely disarmed 

 me. I could not but take notice of the remarkable 

 contrast between their elegant manner of flight, 

 and their lame crawling gait among the branches. 

 They fly very much like the Wild Pigeon, in close 

 compact bodies, and with great rapidity, making a 

 loud and outrageous screaming, not unlike that of 

 the Red-headed Woodpecker. Their flight is some- 

 times in a direct line ; but most usually circuitous 

 making a great variety of elegant and easy serpen- 

 tine meanders, as if for pleasure." 



Audubon remarks, "that their flight is accompa- 

 nied by inclinations of the body, which enable the 

 observer to see alternately their upper and under 

 parts. They deviate from a direct course only 

 when impediments occur, such as the trunks of 

 trees or houses, in which case they glance aside in 

 a very graceful manner, merely as much as may be 

 necessary. On reaching a spot which affords a 

 supply of food, instead of alighting at once, as many 

 other birds do, the Parrakeets take a good survey 

 of tlie neighbourhood, passing over it in circles of 

 great extent, first above the trees, and then gradually 

 lowering until they almost touch the ground, when 



