THE CAROLINA PARROT. 
151 
ous parties frequently alighted on the trees imme- 
diately above, keeping up a constant conversation 
with the prisoner. One of these I wounded slightly 
in the wing, and the pleasure Poll expressed on meet- 
ing with this new companion was really amusing. 
She crept close up to it as it hung on the side of the 
cage ; chattered to it in a low tone of voice, as if 
sympathizing in its misfortune ; scratched about its 
head and neck with her bill ; and both at night 
nestled as close as possible to each other; sometimes 
Poll's head being thrust among the plumage of the 
other. On the death of this companion, she appeared 
restless and inconsolable for several days. On reach- 
ing New Orleans, I placed a looking-glass beside the 
place where she usually sat, and the instant she per- 
ceived her image, all her former fondness seemed to 
return, so that she could scarcely absent herself from 
it a moment. It was evident that she was completely 
deceived. Always when evening drew on, and often 
during the day, she laid her head close to that of the 
image in the glass, and began to doze with great 
composure and satisfaction. In this short space she 
had learned to know her name ; to answer and come 
when called on ; to climb up my clothes, sit on my 
shoulder, and eat from my mouth. I took her with 
me to sea, determined to persevere in her education ; 
but, destined to another fate, poor Poll, having one 
morning about daybreak wrought her way through 
the cage, while I was asleep, instantly flew overboard, 
and perished in the Gulf of Mexico." 
