92 



CAROLINA PARROT 



any correct standard by which to judge of the comparative tempe- 

 ratures of different climates. 



In descending the river Ohio, by myself, in the month of Fe- 

 bruary, I met with the first flock of Parakeets at the mouth of the 

 Little Sioto. I had been informed, by an old and respectable in- 

 habitant of Marietta, that they were sometimes, tho rarely, seen 

 there. I observed flocks of them, afterwards, at the mouth of the 

 Great and Little Miami, and in the neighbourhood of numerous 

 creeks that discharge themselves into the Ohio. At Big Bone lick, 

 thirty miles above the mouth of Kentucky river, I saw them in 

 great numbers. They came screaming through the woods in the 

 morning, about an hour after sunrise, to drink the salt water, of 

 which they, as well as the pigeons, are remarkably fond. When 

 they alighted on the ground it appeared at a distance as if covered 

 with a carpet of the richest green, orange and yellow. They after- 

 wards settled, in one body, on a neighbouring tree, which stood 

 detached from any other, covering almost every twig of it, and the 

 sun shining strongly on their gay and glossy plumage, produced a 

 very beautiful and splendid appearance. Here I had an opportu- 

 nity of observing some very particular traits of their character. 

 Having shot down a number, some of which were only wounded, 

 the whole flock swept repeatedly around their prostrate compa- 

 nions, and again settled on a low tree, within twenty yards of the 

 spot where I stood. At each successive discharge, tho showers of 

 them fell, yet the affection of the survivors seemed rather to in- 

 crease ; for after a few circuits around the place, they again alight- 

 ed near me, looking down on their slaughtered companions with 

 such manifest symptoms of sympathy and concern, as entirely dis- 

 armed me. I could not but take notice of the remarkable contrast 

 between their elegant manner of flight, and their lame and crawl- 

 ing gait among the l&ranches. 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 



