ASH-COLOURED PARROT. 



487 



the upper parts, and more inclining to white be- 

 neath ; the whole, though of a sober colour, haying 

 a very elegant aspect, from the deeper and lighfei 

 undulations formed by the edges of the feathers, 

 as well as from a kind of efflorescence resembling 

 fine powder, which, in a healthy state, is per- 

 petually diffused over the plumage : the whole tail 

 is of the brightest crimson; the temples or orbits 

 of the eyes bare and white : the bill black, and 

 the legs cinereous. This appears to have been 

 one of the earliest imported species from the Afri- 

 can regions, in many of which it is common. It 

 is said to be generally brought from Congo and 

 Angola. Buffbn mentions a variety with the wings 

 marked with red; and in the work of Edwards we 

 meet with a mixed or pied variety, the grey ground- 

 colour of the bird being on all parts varied with 

 red. 



The Grey Parrot seems to have been the species 

 to which the memorable anecdote related by 

 Gesner, and so often repeated by succeeding 

 writers, refers. The bird belonged to King Henry 

 the eighth, and accidentally fell out of the palace 

 at Westminster into the Thames; and then, says 

 Willughby, " very seasonably remembering the 

 words it had often heard some, whether in danger 

 or in jest use, cried out amain A boat, a boat, for 

 twenty pounds, A certain experienced boatman 

 made thither presently, took up the bird, and re- 

 stored it to the King, to whom he knew it belong- 

 ed, hoping for as great a reward as the bird had 

 promised. The King agreed with the boatman 



V. VIII. p. II. 32 



