400 Scientific intetligence. 
and are generally incapable of speech. The geographical distri- 
bution of this tribe of birds is probably more extensive than is usu- 
ally supposed. A species called the Carolina parrot, Latham says, 
inhabits Guiana, and migrates into Carolina and Virginia in au- 
tumn ; feeds on corn and kernels of fruit, particularly those of cy- 
press and apples ; comes into Carolina and Georgia in vast flights, 
doing great damage in orchards, by tearing in pieces the fruits 
for the sake of the seeds, the only part agreeable to its palate. 
Has been known to breed in Carolina, but the greater part re- 
tire south in breeding time, and return when the fruits are ripe. 
Mr Abbot says it is called in Georgia the Parrakeet. Bartram 
observes, that it never reaches so far north as Pennsylvania, 
which is singular, as it is a bird of very rapid flight, and could 
easily perform the journey in 10 or IS hours from North Caro- 
lina, which abounds in all those fruits in which it delights. 
Another species (by some supposed to be only a variety of 
the preceding) called the Illinois Parrot, migrates from South 
America far northward, being common on the banks of the Ohio, 
and the southern shores of Lake Erie. They fly in flocks, and 
feed, among other things, on chesnuts, acorns, and wild pease. 
A third species, called the Emerald Parrot, is also an inha- 
bitant of a comparatively cold climate. It is said to occur in 
the neighbourhood of the Straits of Magellan. Of this, how- 
ever, Buflbri has expressed great doubt, for he asserts, that no 
parrot is met with in so high a latitude. In this opinion he was 
perhaps guided by the general belief of their living on fruits 
and succulent food only, and the strength of his objection must 
therefore cease, when it is known that several of the genus feed 
on seeds and berries. Latham thinks the fact of their pretty 
extensive^ geographical distribution has been now asserted by 
too many authors of veracity to admit of doubt. We are told 
that two sorts were seen about Trinity Harbour in the South 
Seas, Lat. 41° 7'. Dr Forster met with two kinds at Dusky 
Bay, New Zealand, Lat. 46° south, and large flocks as low as 
Port Famine, in the Straits of Magellan, Lat. 53° 44' south, 
where their food must have been buds and berries, the forests 
being frequently bounded by mountains covered with eternal 
snow. Bufibn confines parrots within S5 degrees on each side of 
the Equator ; but the preceding extracts clearly demonstrate 
