CAROLINA PARROT. 
377 
of the globe, this is the only species found native within the 
territory of the United States. The vast and luxuriant tracts 
lying within the torrid zone, seem to be the favourite residence 
of those noisy, numerous, and richly plumaged tribes. The 
Count de Buffon has, indeed, circumscribed the whole genus 
of Parrots to a space not extending more than twenty- three 
degrees on each side of the equator : but later discoveries have 
shewn this statement to be incorrect, as these birds have been 
found on our continent as far south as the Straits of Magellan, 
and even on the remote shores of Van Diemen’s Land, in 
Terra Australasia. The species now under consideration is 
also known to inhabit the interior of Louisiana, and the shores 
of the Mississippi and Ohio, and their tributary waters, even 
beyond the Illinois river, to the neighbourhood of Lake 
Michigan, in lat. 42 deg. north ; and, contrary to the generally 
received opinion, is chiefly resident in all these places. East- 
ward, however, of the great range of the Alleghany, it is 
seldom seen farther north than the state of Maryland ; though 
straggling parties have been occasionally observed among 
luxuries for the table, surpasses, if possible, the many fashionable maniae of 
latter days. We find frequent allusions to these birds both in the prose 
and poetical writers, railing against the expenses of price and maintenance, 
or celebrating their docility, or their love and gratitude to their mistress ; 
and at the height and splendour of the then Mistress of the World, they 
were brought forward to the less honourable avocation of conveying praise 
and flattery to the great. At the present period they are much sought after, 
and a “ good Parrot” will still bring a high price. 
Intertropical countries are the natural abodes of the Psittacidce, where they are 
gregarious, and present most conspicuous and noisy attraction, revelling in free 
or grotesque attitudes, among the forest and mountain glades, which, without 
these, and many other brilliant tenants, would present only a solitude of 
luxuriant vegetation. It is impossible for any one who has only seen these 
birds in a cage or small enclosure, to conceive what must be the gorgeous 
appearance of a flock, either in full flight, and performing their various evolu- 
tions, under a vertical sun, or sporting among the superb foliage of a tropical 
forest : 
In gaudy robes of many-colour ’d patches, 
The Parrots swung like blossoms from the trees, 
While their harsh voices undeceived the ear. 
Ed. 
