CAROLINA PARROT.



bodies, and with great rapidity, making a loud and outrageous
screaming, not unlike that of the Red-headed Woodpecker.
Their flight is sometimes in a direct line; but most usually cir-
cuitous, 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 with and fond of each other, often
scratching 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-burrs 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 con-
fess 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 intes-
tines 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
Mrs. Puss was not to be found, being engaged perhaps on more
agreeable business. I left the medicine with Mr. Colquhoun's

  * Had our author been provided with proper apparatus to cook these birds,
and suitable condiments, he would, doubtless, have been of a different opinion.
Mr. T. Peale and myself, when in East Florida, where this species is found
in great numbers, thought them excellent eating. In Florida the Paroquets
are migratory. We saw the first flock of them, at the Cowford, on the river
St. Johp, on the first of March: the greater part of them were males. G.
Ord.



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