98 



NORTH AMERICA. 



Carolina Parrot. 



and builds a nest of grass, mud, and feathers, about half way up a pine tree. It feeds on the 

 seeds of the pine and other trees in the British possessions. 



The Carolina Parrot (Psittacus Carolinensis) is the 

 only species of parrot found native within the territory of 

 the United States. The vast luxuriant tracts lying within 

 the torrid zone seem to be the favorite residence of these 

 noisy, numerous, and richly-plumaged tribes. The Carolina 

 parrot inhabits the interior of Louisiana and the shores of 

 the Mississippi and Ohio, west of the Alleghanies. It is 

 seldom seen north of Maryland. Their private places 

 of resort are low, rich, alluvial bottoms along the borders 

 of creeks ; deep and almost impenetrable swamps tilled 

 with sycamore and cypress trees, and those singular f<4- 

 lines or licks so interspersed over the western coimtry. 

 Here too is a great abundance of their favorite fruits. 

 The seeds of the cypress tree and beech nuts are eagerly- 

 sought after by these birds. They generally roost in the 

 hollow trunks of old sycamores in parties of 30 or 40 

 together. Here they cling fast to the sides of the tree, 

 holding by their claws and bills. They appear to be fond 

 of sleep, and often retire to their holes during the day, 

 probably to take their regular siesta. They are extremely 

 social and friendly towards each other. The Carolina or 

 Illinois parrot is thirteen inches long ; the forehead and 

 cheeks are orange red ; down and round the neck a rich 

 and pure yellow ; the shoulder and bend of the wings 

 also edged with rich orange red. The general color of 

 the rest of the plumage is bright yellowish silky green, with light blue reflections. It is 

 altogether superior in elegance of figure and beauty of plumage to many of the foreign parrots. 

 It is docile and sociable, and soon becomes perfectly familiar. 



Mr. Audubon represents these Carolina parrots as doing great mischief to the fruit trees by 

 their depredations. 



" They assail the apple and pear trees, when the fruit is yet very small and far from being ripe, 

 and this merely for the sake of the seeds. As if through mischief, they pluck off the fruit, open them 

 to the core, and disappointed at the sight of the seeds, which are yet soft and of a milky consistence, 

 drop the apple or pear, and iduck another, passing from branch to branch, until the trees, which 

 were before so promising, are completely stripped." 



The same author says, that " these birds are quite at ease on trees, or any kind of plant, moving 

 sidevvise, and climbing or hanging in every imaginable posture, assisting themselves very dexterously 

 in all their motions with their bills; they usually alight very close together. I have seen branches 

 of trees as completely covered with them as they could possibly be. On the ground they walk slowly 

 and awkwardly, as if their tail incommoded them. They do not even attempt to run off when ap- 

 proached by the sportsman, should he come upon them unawares ; but when he is seen at a distance, 

 they lose no time in trying to liide, or in scrambling up the trunk of the nearest tree, in doing which 

 they are greatly aided by their bills." Mr. Flint speaks of their plumage as being exceedingly 

 brilliant, and as imparting a singular magnificence to the forest prospect, as they are seen darting 

 through the foliage, and among the white branches of the sycamore. 



Red-headed Woodpecker (Picus erythrocephalus) . There is perhaps no bird in North 

 America so universally known as this. His tri-colored plumage, red, white, and black, is so 

 striking, and his predatory habits in the orchards and corn-fields, added to his fondness for hov- 

 ering along the fences so very notorious, that almost every child is acquainted with the red- 

 headed woodpecker. He may always be seen among the trees of wild cherry covered with 

 fruit, and in passing orchards, you may easily know where to find the sweetest apples, for 

 wherever an apple or pear is found broached by him, it is sure to be among the ripest and best 

 flavored. But though he occasionally regales himself on fruits, his inost natural food is insects, 

 particularly those that have penetrated the body of the tree. These form, at least, two thirds of 

 his subsistence. He generally knows, by the appearance of the bark, where they may be found ; 

 when he is dubious, he rattles vehemently on the outside with his bill, and his acute ear distin 



