CAROLINA PARROT. 
381 
contrast between their elegant manner of flight, and their lame 
and crawling gait among the branches. 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 Woodpecker. Their flight is some- 
times in a direct line ; but most usually circuitous, making a 
great variety of elegant and easy serpentine meanders, as if 
for pleasure. They are particularly attached to the large 
sycamores, in the hollow of the trunks and branches of 
which they generally roost, thirty or forty, and sometimes 
more, entering at the same hole. Here they cling close to 
the sides of the tree, holding fast by the claws and also by the 
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 sociable, and fond of each 
other, often stratching each other’s heads and necks, and 
always, at night, nestling as close as possible to each other, 
preferring, at that time, a perpendicular position, supported 
by their bill and claws. In the fall, when their favourite 
cockle burs are ripe, they swarm along the coast, or high 
grounds of the Mississippi, above New Orleans, for a great 
extent. At such times, they are killed and eaten by many of 
the inhabitants; though, I confess, I think their flesh very 
indifferent. I have several times dined on it from necessity, 
in the woods ; but found it merely passable, with all the sauce 
of a keen appetite to recommend it. 
A very general opinion prevails, that the brains and intestines 
of the Carolina Paroquet are a sure and fatal poison to cats. I 
had determined, when at Big Bone, to put this to the test of 
experiment ; and for that purpose collected the brains and 
bowels of more than a dozen of them. But after close search, 
Mistress Puss was not to be found, being engaged, perhaps, 
on more agreeable business. I left the medicine with Mr 
Colquhoun’s agent, to administer it at the first opportunity, 
and write me the result ; but I have never yet heard from 
him. A respectable lady near the towm of Natchez, and on 
