THE CAROLINA PARROT. 101 great range of the Alleghany, it is seldom seen er north than the state of Maryland; though gling parties have been occasionally observed 7 ong the valleys of the Juniata; and, according to some, even twenty-five miles to the north-west of Albany, in the state of New York. But such accidental visits furnish no certain criteria by which -* judge of their usual extent of range; those aérial _ voyagers, as well as others who navigate the deep, _ being subject to be cast away, by the violence of the _ elements, on distant shores and unknown countries. i - © From these circumstances of the northern residence of this species, we might be justified in f concluding it to be a very hardy bird, more capable of sustaining cold than nine-tenths of its tribe; and : so I believe it is; having myself seen them, in the ~ month of February, along the banks of the Ohio, in a snow storm, flying about like Pigeons, and in full cry. . MG The preference, however, which this bird gives to the western countries, lying in the same parallel of latitude with those eastward of the Alleghany mountains, which it rarely or never visits, is worthy of remark; and has been adduced, by different writers, as a proof of the superior mildness of climate in the former to that of the latter. But there are other reasons for this partiality equally _ powerful, though hitherto overlooked, namely, cer- tain peculiar features of country to which these _ birds are particularly and strongly attached: these x are, low rich alluvial bottoms, along the borders of ; 12 HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OF THE Museum of Comparative Zoology 2', &9! Erchauge Fer cluplrca be ¢ Lepr- (I, ISet = 5 ; on ; 7 tn , i: rae wr rel 7 A % ina | iy 4 - . a ‘-) as ; ee ; > od e> % ‘ i : * aA - - ‘ * r , ew Parte D2 Me Wr Alu 4 ke py ak Pah @ » ’ Bc 7 ee M b = ’ rid _ J cae oo : ’ = ‘ ° » - 7 » r< ~ =" Re « a6 = gf * ”~ > ® , : ~ . nt . > = “ as eis d 4 P n H : . Sy bye. é “ é > rp ~~ oe ois : ’ i are . . > a & "lh Sate aS eh ‘ wd ‘ 4” i c - i atten, Ang - 7 d , - Way Py ee 4 - ‘.” ats ‘ > . ‘ ‘ e*s% ». »ty bs : a, ~~ +t = s Se Pa ae tA THE MISCELLANY NATURAL HISTORY. 4 o » Ss ¥ Ds — - i a <. “ » one | * * . ~f ty r 4 « s wal * J a: o " > f LA Pon is Tt ee ‘ay ‘ » 7 ‘ — $e : * Te | Wiis Yi] Wii: MY YY l VIG Wy YiYft/ Y Wie SS SS N ~ SM SG Wi Z Uh Wj, Ui) y/ i] - Yy We Y OF NATURAL HISTORY —— =—— Aull ee \6 \ - ; @oinburgh, 3 , - PUBLISHED BY FRASER & COMPANY, & SMITH, ELDER,& CO. CORNHILI, LONDON. AND x . * WF, WAKEMAN DUBLIN. « 1833. 4 THE MISCELLANY , SEF 2. | ; 4$--2. NATURAL HISTORY. : VOLUME I. PARROTS. BY SIR THOMAS DICK LAUD BART. F.R.S.E. AND CAPT. THOMAS BROWN, F.L.S. THE ENGRAVINGS BY JOSEPH B. KIDD, ESQ. MEMBER OF THE SCOTTISH ACADEMY OF PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE. ¥ a a ee ae EDINBURGH: LISHED BY FRASER & CO. 54, NORTH BRIDGE; SMITH, ELDER, & CO. CORNHILL, LONDON ; AND W. F. WAKEMAN, DUBLIN. ~ MDCCCXXXIII. = a = ~~ _— ss ——— Ye " yn Sy ad = . ADVERTISEMENT. _ Tue object proposed in this undertaking is, to extend the knowledge of Natural Science in his country, by presenting the public with a series of correct and elegant works on subjects elonging to Natural History, at so low a price as to render them accessible to all who possess a taste for that delightful and instructive study. 1e numerous illustrations, which form a pro- minent feature in a publication of this kind, will be executed in the first style of art. To secure this important advantage, the Editors have associated with themselves Mr J. B. Kidd, member of the Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, an artist whose tainments enable him to impart to his sub- ects that accuracy to be expected from those lone who are acquainted with the Physical Sciences ; and when it is mentioned that the vl ADVERTISEMENT. celebrated Audubon, the best delineator of birds who has hitherto appeared, has employed Mr Kidd to execute oil paintings of all his subjects, of the same size as the splendid origi- nals, with appropriate back grounds, for the purpose of forming a great National Gallery of American Ornithology, the Editors hope this. fact will be considered a sufficient sanction for” the choice they have made. It is the intention of the Editors, in the first instance, to give figures and descriptions of all the larger groups of animals, and after- wards to fill up the series by volumes containing a variety of genera; their ultimate aim being, to form a complete Natural History of the Animal Kingdom. On the completion of the several departments, an accurate systematic view will be given, exhibiting the arrangement of the classes, as regards their genera, sub- genera, species, and varieties, accompanied by complete Synonyms and Indices. In the specific descriptions of the different objects, the Editors will use the ordinary lan- guage of science, without which it is impossible to convey an accurate idea of the different parts. But to render this perfectly easy, at the ADVERTISEMENT. Vil commencement of each class will be given an Engraved Figure, illustrative of the various parts of animals, with their names, which can be referred to, as occasion requires. The general account of the habits, economy, and instinct of the animals, will be popular, and it will be intermingled with a great variety of interesting anecdotes, which the Editors have been carefully collecting for a long series of years, for the express purpose of this under- taking ; and from these, they conceive, much of the true dispositions and individual history of the animals which come under their review, may be gathered. For the accommodation of those who may have a predilection for distinct departments of Natural History, each group of animals will form separate and independent volumes. In pursuing this undertaking, it is the inten- tion of the Editors to figure as many as possible of the animals from Nature ; and in regard to the others, to copy those only which have been well represented in works of undoubted accuracy. All the plates will have back grounds, which will give them a more pictorial effect than mere representations of the animals themselves. vill ADVERTISEMENT. The Editors are determined to use their most — strenuous efforts to render the Miscriiany or Naturat History worthy of public en-— couragement, by uniting science with popular description, and avoiding the indelicacies which but too frequently blemish works on the natural - sciences. The Editors consider themselves fortunate in being able to present the public with the first portrait which has as yet been engraved of Audubon, in the shooting dress which he wore in the woods, taken from an admirable likeness painted by John Syme, Esq. S. A, CONTENTS. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF AUDUBON . ‘ P py PHYSICAL CHARACTERS OF PARROTS ° - a; lane INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE CHARACTERS OF PARROTS 54 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PARROTS; ‘ 91 THE CAROLINA PARROT ‘ . ie THE SPLENDID PARROT : ° - 118 THE GROUND PARROT 3 d : - - THE BLUE AND YELLOW MACCAW ‘ 7 122 THE ROSE-CRESTED COCKATOO ° . ° - 124 THE BLACK COCKATOO . : 126 THE BATTLEDORE-TAILED PARROT ; 7. . aD THE ROSEATE COCKATOO “ _ 129 THE DEEP BLUE MACCAW : . - - 130 THE BLUE TIPPED LORY - ° 131 PENNANTS PARRAKEET ‘ of J « WBE THE NONPAREIL PARRAKEET F i P 134 THE PHILIPPINE LORY ‘ , ‘ PR THE ROSE-RINGED PARRAKEET ; ° ° 138 | THE HYACINTHINE MACCAW A - - 140 ; THE RED AND YELLOW MACCAW . . ° : 142 j THE TURKOSINE PARRAKEET e > is Bae _ ‘THE RED-NAPED PARRAKEET : F : 145° _ ‘THE GOLDEN GREEN PARRAKEET : » 146 x CONTENTS. THE CAPE PARRAKFET : THE SCALY-BREASTED PARRAKEET THE TABUAN PARRAKEET . , THE RED AND BLUE MACCAW . THE INDIAN LORY . , ; THE VAILLANTIAN PARRAKEET ; THE AZURE-BLUE-RUMPED PARROT THE BLACK BACKED PARRAKEET . THE ZONEDPARROT _—_, De THE CERAM LORY ; : : THE PURPLE-TAILED PARRAKEET THE PURPLE-HEADED PARRAKEET THE MOLUCCA PARRAKEET ; THE GREAT-BILLED PARROT . : THE VIOLET-BLUE PARRAKEET TERMINOLOGY OF BIRDS - Page 148 149 150 152 154 155 156 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 167 » a +f BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, ESQ. LirtLe is known of this celebrated naturalist and draughtsman, except what appears in the autobiographical memoir prefixed to the des- criptive letterpress of his great work, The Birds of America. We therefore give it nearly at full length. *‘ I received life and light,” says he, “in the New World. When I had hardly yet learned to walk, and to articulate those first words always so endearing to parents, the productions of Nature that lay spread all around were constantly pointed out to me. They soon became my playmates; and before my ideas were sufficiently formed to enable me to estimate the difference between the azure tints 12 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH of the sky, and the emerald hue of the bright foliage, I felt that an intimacy with them, not — consisting of friendship merely, but bordering — on frenzy, must accompany my steps through life; and now, more than ever, am I persuaded of the power of those early impressions. They — laid such hold upon me, that, when removed — from the woods, the prairies, and the brooks, or shut up from the view of the wide Atlantic, I experienced none of those pleasures most con- genial to my mind. None but aérial com- panions suited my fancy. No roof seemed so secure to me as that formed of the dense foliage under which the feathered tribes were seen to — resort, or the caves and fissures of the massy — rocks to which the dark-winged cormorant and the curlew retired to rest, or to protect them- selves from the fury of the tempest. My father generally accompanied my steps, procured birds and flowers for me with great eagerness, pointed out the elegant movements of the former,—the beauty and softness of their plumage, the — manifestations of their pleasure or sense of © danger,—and the always perfect forms and } splendid attire of the latter. My valued } preceptor would then speak of the departure } and return of birds with the seasons, would — describe their haunts, and, more wonderful © than all, their change of livery; thus exciting OF AUDUBON. 13 me to study them, and to raise my mind toward their great Creator. _ A vivid pleasure shone upon those days of my early youth, attended with a calmness of feeling, that seldom failed to rivet my attention for hours, whilst I gazed in ecstasy upon the pearly and shining eggs, as they lay imbedded in the softest down, or among dried leaves and twigs, or were exposed upon the burning sand or weatherbeaten rock of our Atlantic shores. I was taught to look upon them as flowers yet in the bud. 1 watched their opening, to see ow Nature had provided each different species ith eyes, either open-at birth, or closed for me time after; to trace the slow progress of he young birds toward perfection, or admire e celerity with which some of them, while et unfledged, removed themselves from danger security. ** I grew up, and my wishes grew with my orm. ‘These wishes, kind reader, were for e entire possession of all that Isaw. I was ervently desirous of becoming acquainted with ature. For many years, however, I was sadly pointed, and for ever, doubtless, must [ lave desires that cannot be gratified. The homent a bird was dead, however beautiful it had been when in life, the pleasure arising from the possession of it became blunted ; and B <) 14 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH although the greatest cares were bestowed on endeavours to preserve the appearance of Nature, I looked upon its vesture as more than: sullied, as requiring constant attention, andl repeated mendings, while, after all, it could no) longer be said to be fresh from the hands of its Maker. I wished to possess all the productions of Nature, but I wished life with them. This was impossible. ‘Then what was to be done ? I turned to my father, and made known to him\ my disappointment and anxiety. He produced] a book of Jilustrations. A new life ran in my) veins. I turned over the leaves with avidity ; and although what I saw was not what I longed) for, it gave me a desire to copy Nature. Te Nature I went, and tried to imitate her, as im the days of my childhood I had tried to raise myself from the ground and stand erect, before Nature had imparted the vigour necessary for the success of such an undertaking. ‘‘ How sorely disappointed did I feel fox} many years, when I saw that my productions were worse than those which I ventured (pers} haps in silence) to regard as bad, in the book given me by my father! My pencil gave birth ta a family of cripples. So maimed were most off them, that they resembled the mangled corpse: on a field of battle, compared with the integri of living men. These difficulties and disap-] —_ OF AUDUBON. 15 intments irritated me, but never for a moment stroyed the desire of obtaining perfect repre- sentations of Nature. The worse my drawings were, the more beautiful did I see the originals. To have been torn from the study would have been as death to me. My time was entirely occupied with it. I produced hundreds of these rude sketches annually; and for a long time, at my request, they made bonfires on the anniversaries of my birth-day. ** Patiently, and with industry, did I apply myself to study; for, although I felt the impos- sibility of giving life to my productions, I did not abandon the idea of representing Nature. ‘Many plans were successively adopted, many masters guided my hand. At the age of seven- teen, when I returned from France, whither I had gone to receive the rudiments of my education, my drawings had assumed a form. Davip* had guided my hand in tracing objects of large size. Eyes and noses belonging to giants, and heads of horses represented in ancient sculpture, were my models. ‘These, although fit subjects for men intent on pursuing the higher branches of the art, were immediately _ © David was the most celebrated French Historical va of his day —indeed the only one whose works could any kind of comparison with those of the ancient masters. .- Ep. 16 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH laid aside by me. I returned to the woods o the New World with fresh ardour, and com menced a collection of drawings, which henceforth continued, and which is now pu lishing under the title of The Birds of America ‘* Every individual possessed of a sound heart, listens with delight to the love-notes of the woodland warblers. Henever casts a glance upon their lovely forms without proposing t himself questions respecting them, nor does he look on the trees which they frequent, or the flowers over which they glide, without admiring their grandeur, or delighting in their sweet odours or their brilliant tints. | “* In Pennsylvania, a beautiful state, almost central on the line of our Atlantic shores, my father, in his desire of proving my friend through life, gave me what Americans call a beautiful ‘ plantation,’ refreshed during the summer heats by the waters of the Schuylkil River, and traversed by a creek named Perkioming. Its fine woodlands, its extensive fields, its hills crowned with evergreens, offered many subjects to my pencil. It was there that I commenced my simple and agreeable studies, with as little concern about the future as if the world had _ been made for me. My rambles invariably commenced at break of day; and to return wet with dew, and bearing a feathered prize, was, OF AUDUBON. 17 and ever will be, the highest enjoyment for which I have been fitted. _ Yet think not, reader, that the enthusiasm which I felt for my favourite pursuits was a barrier opposed to the admission of gentler Sentiments. Nature, which had turned my young mind toward the bird and the flower, soon proved her influence upon AY heart. Be it enough to say, that the object of my passion has long since blessed me with the name of husband. And now let us return, for who cares to listen to the love-tale of a naturalist, whose feelings may be supposed to be as light as the feathers which he delineates ! _ Foraperiod of nearly twenty years, my life ‘was a succession of vicissitudes. I tried various branches of commerce, but they all proved un- profitable, doubtless because my whole mind ‘was ever filled with my passion for rambling, and admiring those objects of Nature from which alone I received the purest gratification. I had to struggle against the will of all who at that period called themselves my friends. I must here, however, except my wife and chil- dren. The remarks of my other friends irritated beyond endurance, and, breaking through bonds, I gave myself entirely up to my uits. Any one unacquainted with the i sedinary desire which I then felt of seeing n2 18 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH and judging for myself, would doubtless have pronounced me callous to every sense of duty, and regardless of every interest. I undertook Jong and tedious j journeys, ransacked the woods, the lakes, the prairies, and the shores of the Atlantic. Years were spent away from my family. Yet, reader, will you believe it, I had no other object in view than simply to enjoy the sight of Nature. Never for a moment did) I conceive the hope of becoming in any degree useful to my kind, until I accidentally formed acquaintance with the Prince of Musignano* at Philadelphia, to which plaee I went, with the view of proceeding eastward along the coast. — ‘‘T reached Philadelphia on the 5th April, 1824, just as the sun was sinking beneath the horizon. Excepting the good Dr Mease, who hac visited me in my younger days, I had scarcely a friend in the city; for I was then unacquainted with Harlan, Wetherell, Macmurrie, Lesueur, or Sully. I called on him, and shewed him some of my drawings. He presented me to the celebrated Charles Lucian Bonaparte, whe in his turn introduced me to the Natural History Society of Philadelphia. But the patronage * Charles Lucian Bonaparte, who has published a splendid continuation of the American Ornithology of Alexandeéi Wilson, containing figures and descriptions of all the bir¢ discovered since his time. OF AUDUBON. 19 - which I so much needed, I soon found myself compelled to seek elsewhere. I left Phila- delphia, and visited New York, where I was received with a kindness well suited to elevate my depressed spirits ; and afterwards, ascending _ that noble stream the Hudson, gliding over our broad lakes, to seek the wildest solitudes of the pathless and gloomy forests. ‘¢ Tt was in these forests that, for the first time, - ITcommuned with myself as to the possible event of my visiting Europe again; and I began to fancy my work under the multiplying efforts of the graver. Happy days, and nights of pleasing dreams! I read over the catalogue of my collection, and thought how it might be possible _ for an unconnected and unaided individual like _ myself to accomplish the grand scheme. Chance, _ and chance alone, had divided my drawings into three different classes, depending upon the ‘magnitude of the objects which they repre- sented; and although I did not at that time _ possess all the specimens necessary, I arranged them as well as I could into parcels of five _ plates, each of which now forms a Number of _ my Illustrations. I improved the whole as much as was in my power, and as I daily retired farther _ from the haunts of man, determined to leave nothing undone, which my labour, my time, or _ my purse, could accomplish. 20 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ‘Eighteen months elapsed. Ireturned tomy — family, then in Louisiana, explored every por- — tion of the vast woods around, and at last sailed © towards the Old World. But before we visit the — shores of hospitable England, I have the wish, — good-natured reader, to give you some idea of — my mode of executing the original drawings, — from which the Illustrations have been taken; — and I sincerely hope that the perusal of these © lines may excite in you a desire minutely to © examine them. ** Merely to say that each object of my Illus- ~ trations is of the size of Nature, were too vague, — —for to many it might only convey the idea ~ that they are so, more or less, according as the ~ eye of the delineator may have been more or — less correct in measurement simply obtained — through that medium; and of avoiding error — in this respect, I am particularly desirous.. Not — only is every object, as a whole, of the natural — size, but also every portion of each object. | The compass aided me in its delineation, regu-- lated and corrected each part, even to the very — fore-shortening which now and then may be ~ seen in the figures. The bill, the feet, the — legs, the claws, the very feathers, as they pro- — ject one beyond another, have been accurately — measured. ‘The birds, almost all of them, were killed by myself, after I had examined their q wt a OF AUDUBON. 21 motions and habits, as much as the case ad- mitted, and were regularly drawn on or near the spot where I procured them. The positions May, perhaps, in some instances, appear otéré ;. but such supposed exaggerations can afford subject of criticism only to persons unacquainted with the feathered tribes; for, believe me, no- thing can be more transient or varied than the attitudes or positions of birds. ‘The Heron, when warming himself in the sun, will some- times drop its wings several inches, as if they were dislocated. ‘The Swan may often be seen floating, with one foot extended from the body; and some Pigeons, you well know, turn quite over when playing in the air. ‘The flowers, plants, or portions of trees which are attached to the principal objects, have been chosen from amongst those in the vicinity of which the birds were found, and are not, as some persons thought, the tree§’ or plants upon which they always feed or perch. ** An accident which happened to two hundred of my original drawings, nearly put a stop to my researches in ornithology. I shall relate it, merely to shew you how far enthusiasm— for by no other name can I call the persevering zeai with which I laboured — may enable the observer of Nature to surmount the most dis~ heartening obstacles. { left the village of 22 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Henderson, in Kentucky, situated on the bank of the Ohio, where I resided for several years, — to proceed to Philadelphia on business. I looke¢ to all my drawings before my departure, placed them carefully in a wooden box, and gave them — in charge to a relative, with injunctions to see that no injury should happen to them. My absence was of several months; and when [ returned, after having enjoyed the pleasures of home for a few days, I inquired after my box, - and what I was pleased to call my treasure. The box was produced, and opened; but, | reader, fee] for me: a pair of Norway rats had taken possession of the whole, and had reared a young family amongst the gnawed bits of paper, which, but a few months before, repre= sented nearly a thousand inhabitants of the air! ‘The burning heat which instantly rushed through my brain, was too great to be endured, 3 without affecting the whole of my nervous. system. I slept not for several nights, and) the days passed like days of oblivion, unti L the animal powers being recalled into action, through the strength of my constitution, I took } up my gun, my note-book, and my pencils, and went forth to the woods as gaily as iff nothing had happened. I felt pleased that If might now. make much better drawings than’ before, and, ere a period not exceeding three J OF AUDUBON. 23 years had elapsed, I had my portfolio filled again.” > The conduct of Audubon on this occasion, will be a useful lesson to the young, and will point out to them the necessity of never relax- ing in their exertions, or giving way to des- pondency, whatever difficulties they may have to encounter in their progress through life. ‘“¢ America being my country, and the principal pleasures of my life having been obtained there, I prepared to leave it with deep sorrow, after in vain trying to publish my Illustrations in the United States. In Philadelphia, Wilson’s principal engraver, amongst others, gave it as his opinion to my friends, that my drawings could never be engraved. In New York, other difficulties presented themselves, which determined me to carry my collections to Europe. ai As I approached the coast of England, and for the first time beheld her fertile shores, the despondency of my spirits became very great. I knew not an individual in the country; and although I was the bearer of letters from American friends, and statesmen of great emi- _nence, my situation appeared precarious in the extreme. I imagined that every individual whom I was about to meet, might be possessed _of talents superior to those of any on our side 24 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH of the Atlantic. Indeed, as I for the first time walked on the streets of Liverpool, my heart — nearly failed me, for not a glance of sympathy did I meet in my wanderings for two days. — To the woods I could not betake myself, for there were none near. f ‘* But how soon did all around me assume a — different aspect! How fresh is the recollection — of the change! The very first letter which I © ~ tendered procured me a world of friends. The — Rathbones, the Roscoes, the Trails, the Chor- — leys, the Mellies, and others, took me by the © hand; and so kind and beneficent —nay, so — generously kind — have they all been towards © me, that I can never cancel the obligation. My — drawings were publicly exhibited, and publicly — praised. Joy swelled my heart. The first © difficulty was surmounted. Honours which, — on application being made through my friends, _ Philadelphia had ‘tefused, Liverpool fecle ‘ accorded. ** left that emporium of commerce with many a passport, bent upon visiting fair Edina, for I longed to see the men and the scenes immor- — talized by the fervid strains of Burns, and the — glowing eloquence of Scott and Wilson. I © arrived at Manchester, and here, too, the Greggs, the Lloyds, the Sergeants, the Holmes, the | _ Blackwalls, the Bentleys, and many others, } OF AUDUBON. 25 : oo rendered my visit as pleasing as it was profitable to me. Friends pressed me to accompany them to the pretty villages of Bakewell, Mat- k, and Buxton. It was a jaunt of pure enjoyment. Nature was then at the best —at least such was the feeling of our whole party — the summer was full of promise. ** My journey to Scotland was performed along the north-western shores of England. I passed in view of Lancaster Castle, and through Car- lisle. I had by this time much altered my ideas of this island and its inhabitants. I found her churches all hung with her glories, and her people all alive to the kindest hospitality. I aw Edinburgh, and was struck with the natural pictorial elegance of her site; and I soon found that her inhabitants were as urbane as those whom I had left behind me. The principal scientific and literary characters of the ancient ‘metropolis of Scotland received me as a brother. It is impossible for me to mention all the indi- viduals from whom I received the kindest attention ; but gratitude forbids my omitting the names of Professors Jameson, Graham, Russel, Wilson, Brown, and Monro, Sir Walter Scott, ‘Captain Hall, Dr Brewster, Dr Greville, Mr James Wilson, Mr Neill, Mr Hay, Mr Combe, Mr Hamilton, the Withams, the Lizarses, the Symes, and the Nicholsons; the Royal Society, ; c 4 26 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH the Wernerian Natural History Society, the Society of Scottish Antiquaries, the Society of Useful Arts, the Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, spontaneously andi gratuitously enrolled me among their members.,. *‘ In this capital commenced the publication of my Illustrations, and there it might have been accomplished, had not unexpected difficulties come in the way. My engraver, Mr W. Lizars, advised me to seek an artist in London, There, after many fruitless inquiries, I became) acquainted with Mr Robert Havell, junior, whe has ever since continued to be employed by me, and who, I am happy in saying, has giver general satisfaction to my patrons.” The change of his engraver seems to have. caused him considerable vexation at the time, and he experienced some difficulty in finding 7 person to enter into so large a speculation, on the uncertainty of a prospective subscription, Besides, several of his subscribers in Scotland withdrew their names; some, we _ believe, assigned as a reason the removal of the publi< cation from Scotland, and others objected to the change of style in the engravings. Although this evidently gave him some annoyance at the time, yet he resolutely determined to pursue his undertaking with undiminished ardour; for in a letter to Mr Kidd, of the 25th November,” A OF AUDUBON. 27 1828, he scruples not to say, that he is proud of his ** Birds of America, and that it will be srized when his head is laid in the dust;” and adds, “ ‘The eleventh number is now engraved, and all the Scotch together could not stop the work from going on; nay, I would clean the streets of London town rather than it should suffer a day.” © _ © Four years have passed. One volume of my Illustrations, containing one hundred plates, is before the public. You may easily see, good- red reader, that to Britain I owe nearly all my success. She has furnished the artists through whom my labours were to be presented to the world; she has granted me the highest atronage and honours; in a word, she has thus far supported the prosecution of my Illustra- tions. ‘To Britain, therefore, I shall ever be grateful.” _ Since the above sketch was written, additional plates have been published, in which there are Various new species represented. _ This great work, when it shall have been completed, will be immeasurably the grandest which has ever appeared in the world on any branch of natural history. _ As a delineator of birds, Audubon never had an equal; his subjects breathe all the freshness, character, and vigour of living Nature. His > 6 28 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH attitudes are of the most spirited description, infinitely varied, and all appearing as in their native haunts. They are entirely divested of that formality which but too frequently charac- terizes natural history plates; while, at the same time, they are remarkable for the aceu racy and imitation of the feathering; and in those parts most essential to the naturalist, namely, the beaks and feet, they are drawn with matchless skill and beauty. His des- eriptions of birds are strikingly graphie ané amusing, although, in this respect, he does not equal Wilson. The magnificent work of Audubon gained for him a high reputation in this country, ane expensive as it is, he soon found as many subseribers as not only to cover the expenses of the undertaking, but also held out the pros- pect of the acquirement of a moderate compe- tency. In September, ]828, he visited France, where he was received with open arms by ¢ the celebrated naturalists of that country; ar Baron Cuvier read a highly laudatory report of the “* Birds of America” before the Institute, which was copied into almost all the French papers of the time. He returned to London on the 30th October, | and, in a letter to our associate, Mr Kidd, he} communicated the agreeable intelligence, tha OF AUDUBON. 29 he had received fourteen subscribers to his work | Paris, among whom were the Ex-king Charles X, the French king, Louis Philippe, and his Queen, the Prince de Messina, Baron Cuvier, and the French Institute. _ On the 27th February, 1829, Mr Audubon ‘wrote to Mr Kidd, informing him, that he ‘contemplated returning to America, for the double purpose of bringing his wife to England, ‘and also of refreshing a few of his drawings. ‘In this, and a subsequent letter of the 13th arch, he expressed a strong desire that Mr Kidd would accompany him to the United States, which Mr Kidd, however, declined, ‘and he set sail himself in the Columbia on the Ist April, and remained absent about a year, when he returned to this country with Mrs Audubon. - The irresistible impulses of his nature again dictated another visit to his native wildernesses, for the purpose of making, if possible, fresh discoveries in the feathered creation. He accordingly set sail on the Ist August, 1831. In this last visit to his native land he seems to have been received with much higher marks of respect than before, and has procured several. new subscribers to his work. ‘The New York Mirror of the 20th April, 1833, informs us, that he was at that time in New York exhibiting c2 30 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH his ** Water Birds of America, and that the exhibition was numerously and fashionably attended, and his drawings universally admired ;” and adds, that ** his subscription list has received substantial tokens of regard.” About the end of October, 1831, a report! found its way into the English papers from the: Literary Gazette, which was copied from a Philadelphia paper, stating that Audubon, the American ornithologist, had died while prose- cuting his researches. This information excited general feelings of regret amongst scientific men; and, as we had good grounds for sup- posing it to be incorrect, we addressed the following letter to the editor of the Caledonian Mercury, which we give at length, as it embraces some topics to which we consider it necessary to direct the attention of the reader. *¢ Str, —I sincerely hope that the announce- ment in the Mercury of Saturday last, of the death of the celebrated Audubon, is not correct. Indeed, I cannot believe it to be so, from the manner in which it is stated, namely, that he was about to return to England with a rich store of objects in natural history. ** Mr Audubon, accompanied by his accom- plished wife, sailed from England for the United States on the 2d of August last. It was that OF AUDUBON. 31 gentleman’s intention to remain in America for fifteen or eighteen months, for the purpose of making farther researches in natural science, among the mighty transatlantic forests. “T have now before me a letter from Audubon to my friend Mr Joseph B. Kidd, member of the Scottish Academy of Painting, dated New York, 7th September, 1831, when he was in good health and spirits. ‘The fol- lowing excerpt from which cannot fail to be acceptable to your readers, as coming froma man who has so successfully devoted his life to the advancement of so interesting a branch of natural science. He says, ‘ We landed on the 3d, after a remarkably fine passage of thirty- three days. In two days more I proceed to the woods, and away from white men’s tracks and manners. I hope you are going on well with your work.’ * Then follows a string of remembrances to his personal friends in Edinburgh, and he adds, ‘I have a new subscriber here. ‘The papers and scientific journals (we have not many) are ‘singing the praise of my work, and, God willing, I may yet come out at the broad end of the horn; at all events, I will either break tt, or make a spoon! I shot sixteen birds on the passage, which I got through the kind attention of our commander. I killed fifty more, when = 32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH the Columbia was going too fast to stop for the — purpose of picking them up. My young man is now closely engaged in skinning, and killed © a bagfull of Warblers yesterday.—Vive la joie! — no taxes on shooting or fishing.’ ‘“¢ After the high eulogium you paid Audubon, it leaves me but little to add. I may, however, mention a few words in reference to the © excerpts, as otherwise they may be misunder- — stood. ** Where he says to Mr Kidd, ‘ I hope you are going on well with your work,’ this is in regard to copying his drawings of birds. About a year ago Audubon conceived the grand idea of instituting a Natural History Gallery of Paintings, and entered into an — agreement with Mr Kidd to copy ad/ his draw- ings of the same size, and in oil, leaving to the taste of that excellent artist to add such back-grounds as might give them a more pictorial effect. In the execution of such of © those as Mr Kidd has finished, he has not only preserved all the vivacious character of the originals, but he has greatly heightened their beauty, by the general tone and appropriate feeling which he has preserved and carried throughout his pictures. ‘To those who know the difficulty of maintaining harmony with prom pertly subdued colouring, in connection with * t. = 2 OF AUDUBON. 33 birds whose tints are of the most dazzling brightness, it will be admitted to be no easy task. When Mr Kidd has completed this undertaking, he will perhaps be the best orni- thological painter that ever the world produced. Already he has made a distinguished figure as a landscape painter, and, for his standing, may be considered as one of the first in Scotland. _ To those who are unacquainted with the magnitude of Audubon’s great work, it may appear singular that he should speak of ‘ one subscriber.’ It may be mentioned, that his work is perhaps the largest ever published; every species of bird, male, female, and young, being engraved on separate sheets of nearly four feet in length; and although nota third of it has yet appeared, the price amounts to upwards of forty pounds. The death, therefore, of such a man, would be an incalculable loss to science. Already has he discovered many birds which our distinguished countryman, Wilson, had not met with; and although Audubon is now a man beyond the meridian of human life, he scruples not once more to penetrate the trackless and immeasurable woods of America, so that he may add, if possible, a few new species to the Fauna of his native country. With a buoyant spirit, such a pure passion for, and ardent zeal in the cause of the physical 34 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH sciences, he fearlessly devotes himself to the encountering of dangers and privations which few are capable of conceiving, who have not ‘witnessed the awful grandeur of the solitude of an American wilderness, thickly studded with mighty trees, from eighty to a hundred feet in height, with the birds of the desert as — his only companions; where the awful silence is only disturbed, by day, by the scream of the — Vulture, the Eagle, or the Raven, and by night. the dreary hootings of the Great-eared Owl and his congeners, while at every step he is: liable to tread on the poisonous Rattlesnake, or other noxious reptiles. | **T hope he may be long preserved to pursue thatscience to which he is so devotedly attached, and to complete a work which never has been, and, in all probability, never will be equalled. I remain, sir, your obedient humble servant, “ ‘THo. Brown.” We close this sketch by an extract from Cuvier’s Report*to the Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris, which is not only interesting as being the opinion of the greatest of natu- ralists, but also from its pointing out the dis- tinction which ought to exist betwixt a picture and a representation of an object in Natural History. “ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF AUDUBON. 35 *¢ It is in the double capacity of an artist and a philosopher that he has produced the work which has been laid before the Academy. You have been struck by the size of the book, equal or superior to the largest of the kind that has been published, and which approaches the double plates of the Description of Egypt. ** ‘These extraordinary dimensions has allowed him to give species of the size of the Eagle and Grouse of their natural magnitude, and to multiply those which are smaller, so as to represent them in every attitude. ** The execution of those plates, so remark- able for their size, appears to us to have been equally successful in respect of drawing, engra- ving, and colouring; and although it be difficult to a colourist te give relief with as much effect _as in painting, properly so called, this is not an inconvenience in works of natural history. _ Naturalists prefer the natural colour of objects to those accidental tints which result from the various inflections of light necessary to com- plete picturesque truth, but foreign and even hurtful to scientific truth.” MM 4 : PHYSICAL CHARACTERS OF PARROTS. THOsE animals which, in any particular, ap- proximate to the nature of man, have always excited in him more interest than any others. At the head of these, among mammiferous quadrupeds, may be ranked the extensive tribe of Monkeys; and, among birds, the tribe of Parrots. These are analogically connected ; and both possess physical peculiarities somewhat allied to humanity. _. Monkeys approach mankind in their confor- mation, gestures, and in a distant resemblance in the face. In the use of their hands they also bear a striking similitude, while their internal organic structure approaches, in a wonderful degree, to that of man. Their faculty of imitating human actions, is not the least curious part of their simi- larity; and if they had the power of imitating sounds, the resemblance would have been D 38 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS wonderfully complete: but the infinite wisdom of the framer and ruler of the universe has wisely ordered it otherwise ; and in this respect they are far behind that of many other animals much less perfect in their organization; for we find that Parrots, whichare far removed in form and physical properties from man, are still more nearly allied to him in the faculty of acquiring articulate sounds, their imitation. of his voice being so exact, as not to be easily detected. So that the approximation is of a higher kind in Parrots than in Monkeys—so far at least as speech is connected with mental operations—_ while gesture is simply a physical action. The whole members of the extensive family of Parrots have a thick, hard, solid bill, round in all its parts, the base being surrounded by a membrane, in which the nostrils are pierced. They have a soft, thick, fleshy, round tongue, capable of great mobility, which, with their complicated larynx, provided with three muscles, enables them to imitate articulate sounds, and more particularly that of the human voice. In the division of Parrots proper, the skin which covers the tongue is frequently fine, dry, and pro- vided with papillz, which De Blainville says, are arranged longitudinally, and placed on a kind of an- terior disc, supported by a crescent-shaped corneous annulation. These papillae are invested by a pigmentous deposit, covered by a very slender epidermis. In the division which includes the Cockatoos, or, as Levaillant callsthem, Aras a@ trompe, the tongue is cylindrical, rather lengthened, but not - OF PARROTS. 39 flexible ; of a flesh colour, and solid, terminated by a small, black, somewhat corneous gland, with its centre hollowed. This little corneous gland is the true tongue of the animal, while the cylindrical portion by which it is sustained, is merely an exten- sion of the hyoid apparatus, which the animal can elongate at will, by an annular apparatus, somewhat analogous to the tongue of Woodpeckers. This tongue is an organ of sense, having the properties of touch and prehension, for the purpose of swallowing. De Blainville has shewn, that some of the species of this group, which inhabit the South Sea Islands and Australia, have a tongue terminated by a crown- formed bundle of cartilaginous, filamentary hairs. These he considers as papille, from the size of the nerves communicating with them. The muscles of their jaws are greatly stronger than those of other birds. Their feet have two toes placed forward, and. two backward ; which, with the assistance of their bills, fit them for climbing. Modern naturalists have separated this family into several distinct genera. These we shall notice in another volume ; and it will be sufficient for our present purpose to give the character of the Linnean genus Psittacus. The head is large and round; the bill is short, thick, robust, gibbous, and much arcuated, both above and below ; the upper mandible is greatly bent, hooked at the point, and provided with a notch; the under mandible is short and truncated, with a cere at its base ; the nostrils are roundish, 40 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS and placed within the cere; the legs are short, and very strong ; the tarsus shorter than the external toe; and the interior toes attached at their base. In the shape and length of body, there is great variety in this tribe. Some are robust and short, while others are elegant and taper in their form; the breasts of the whole species are well rounded. The eyes of Parrots are placed laterally, and are of moderate dimensions. The upper and under lid is continuous, forming a rounded orifice, bordered — with small tubercles, which support the eye-lashes— in its entire circumference. ‘The upper part of the lid is mobile, and the nictitating membrane is so small, that it is never observed to be used by them. The pupil is round, and not placed exactly centrical, but inclining towards the internal circumference of the iris. A peculiarity in Parrots, is the power they have of contracting the pupil at will, and not dependant on the action of light, and may be more particularly noticed when under the influence of fear, anger, or any other internal commotion. The iris, as in other animals, is subject to great variety of colour in the different species. It has, however, been remarked, that the colour of the iris deepens as they increase in years. The opening of the ear is of an oval shape, and small in its dimensions when compared with the size of the ulule ; it is placed obliquely forward, and is always covered with feathers. In the Maccaws, the cheeks are destitute of feathers, but in their stead are covered with a white OF PARROTS. 4] farinaceous powder ; and the skin, in the division called Microglossus, is coloured; while in other divisions the space round the eye is more or less devoid of feathers, and covered with farina. This farina appears produced by the epidermis, and invests the whole surface of the skin in many species ; and may be seen in considerable quantities emanating from the birds when they shake their feathers. _ The neck of the Parrots is rather short than otherwise, and somewhat thick, but is capable of elongation to a certain extent. Parrots are formed, in an eminent degree, for climbing. Not only does their general conformation indicate this, but the strength and arrangement of their toes distinctly prove it. They walk but lowly on the ground, and in a very awkward manner, from the vacillating swing of their body, occasioned by the shortness and wide separation f their legs. In eating they make great use of eir feet, with which they perform the office of hands, holding their food firmly with the claws of one foot, while they support themselves on the other. They do not present their food to their bills in the ordinary manner,—for other animals turn their meat inwards, to the mouth; but these, in a seemingly awkward position, turn their food utwards. They hold the hardest nuts as if in ne hand, till with their bills they break the shell, d extract the kernel. Although short and clumsy legs are a general D 2 42 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS characteristic of the Parrot family, yet there are some which have long legs, and toes more fitted for walking than climbing, being shorter and straighter, as may be instanced in our representation of the Ground Parrot, Plate 3. The birds of this kind have been formed into a separate genus by LIlliger, under the name of Pezoporus. The claws of this division are but slightly bent; and the birds remain almost constantly on the ground, and run about with great swiftness. The bill of the Parrot is very peculiar in its for- mation, for both the upper and lower mandibles are moveable. In most other birds, the upper mandible is connected with, and forms part of the skull; but in Parrots, and a few other tribes, it is only connected with the bone of the head by a strong membrane, which is placed on each side, and that lifts and depresses it at pleasure. By this curious contrivance, they can open their bills the more widely, which, to them, is an indispensable property, as the upper mandible is so much hooked, and so overhanging, that, if the lower chap only had motion, they could scarcely gape sufficiently to take any thing in for their nourishment. In climbing, Parrots are greatly assisted by their bills, for they rest upon branches by the under mandible, while, with the upper one, they sustain themselves, both in the act of ascending and descending. As might be expected in a family so extensive, there is considerable variety in the length and structure of the wings; which are in general EE OF PARROTS. 43 however, rather short; and, as their bodies are usually bulky, they have consequently some diffi- culty in rising to any great altitude ; but, having once gained a certain height, they fly easily, and some species with much rapidity. Some are capable of making considerable aérial excursions. The usual mode of flight, of many species, is simply from one branch to another; and unless they are violently disturbed or pursued, these will seldom be tempted to make a continuous flight. ._ The number of feathers in the tails of Parrots, is always twelve ; but they are subject to great variety of length in the different species, as also in the rela- tive lengths of the feathers in individual species. The general form is also exceedingly varied, as graduated, arrow or spear-shaped, straight or square. Some species have the rectrices sharp at their points, while in others they are rounded. The upper tail-coverts are very much elongated in some species of the last division of Parrots, and reach nearly to the end of the rectrices ; which character obtains mostly in species whose tails are graduated, and almost never to be met with in those which are straight at their termination. In the general distribution of the colours, there appears to be some fixed rules. The quills of the wings are usually gray, brown, or black at their under face, and on the interior of their barbs, which are concealed from view; and the visible parts are of high-toned colours. The rectrices of | ll, ai the tail have usually the lower face more obscure 44 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS than the upper. The external lateral tail-feathers, and the two intermediate ones, are frequently different in colour from the rest of the tail-feathers. The edge of the epaulette of the wing, for the most part, is of a different colour from the upper part of the wing, being usually yellow or red ; and the upper and under tail-coverts differ from each other, and also from the feathers of the rump. When the back is green, the wing-quills and lateral tail-feathers are of a pale grayish-blue, or, at least, are of a blue of greater or less intensity. The fore- head, for the most part, is marked with red, blue, or yellow. In some species there is a tuft of feathers, forming a kind of crest, which is bounded by the eyes and occiput, and usually of a different colour from the other parts of the head. Although — Parrots be sometimes clouded, yet there is not any instance known of individual feathers being spotted, — like those of the predatory birds, or of the passerine kinds. In a young state, the plumage has frequently a scaled or meshed appearance, resulting from the feathers of the body, and particularly of the lower parts, being bordered with a different tint from their ground colour. ‘Those feathers are arranged over each other like the scales of a fish. This is more particularly the case with young individuals, in many of which insulated feathers are sometimes observable, of a different colour from the surround- ing plumage. These feathers are part of the plumage which is destined to sueceed that in which they are invested, and which have made a OF PARROTS. ‘ 45 more rapid growth than the ohliers. These serve as a sure indication of the colours which are to be on the parts where they shoot out; and in young birds will point out their species, if before doubtful. In many instances the females differ in the colour of their plumage from that of the male; but when it is the same, it is for the most part duller in its hue. _ It has been asserted, that the natives of Brazil can change the colour of the plumage of Parrots ; if this is the case, which we think quite probable, they can increase the list of species, as colour is frequently all that constitutes a specific difference in birds, The Carolina Parrot, it will be found by our description of Plate 1. migrates according to the season. This is also the case with a limited number f other species, which are well known to travel a distance of some hundred leagues. The species whose powers of flight are limited, are found to be inhabitants of the Polynesian group of islands. _ Parrots are almost always gregarious, except during incubation, at which time some of the spe- cies separate into pairs. The whole tribe retire to rest at sunset, and awake with the dawn of day. They sleep lightly, with the head turned towards the back, and partially covered by the feathers, hich they erect; and it is not unusual for them utter cries during the night. In a state of domestication, Parrots accommodate 1emselves to the habits of the family with which they 46 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS 4 reside, seldom retiring to rest at night, while there is any talking, but continue chattering as long as) the family remain out of bed. It is said that the evening is the best time for instructing them in the imitation of language, as they have fewer attractions: at that time. They are, however, diurnal birds. — All this numerous family are monogamous. They nestle in holes in the trunks of trees, or it the crevices of rocks, laying a foundation of rotter wood in the former situation, or dried leaves in the latter. They only lay three or four eggs at time ; but they incubate several times in a year. The eggs are ovoid, and equally obtuse at both ends, about the size of those of a Pigeon, and ofa white colour. The young, when hatched, are quite naked, and the head disproportionately large ir comparison to the body, which, in many. cases they have scarcely the power of elevating. The first covering consists of down, which, in the course of two or three weeks, is superseded by feathers. They are protected and fed by their parents till they have undergone the first mou After they pair, and engage in the important business of incubation, all attention, on the side of either parents or offspring, is for ever terminated. Ic was long supposed that Parrots would not breed in captivity, nor out of their native country; but the truth of this was put to the test in the year 1740 and 1741, when mary of these birds in- cubated, in a domesticated state, in different parts of Europe. In 1801, the Amazon Parrot (Psié- q al OF PARROTS. 47 us Amazonicus) bred at Rome. We have an presting and detailed account of various broods f a pair of Blue Maccaws (Psittacus araruna) hich bred at Caen, in France, from the pen of . Lamouroux, Professor of Natural History to hat town. These birds, the property of M. snault, of Caen, commenced incubation in March, 1818, and, up to August, 1822, they had nine- een broods; and the female had laid, during that eriod, sixty-two eggs. Of these, twenty-five were productive, and ten only of the young birds died. The others lived, throve remarkably well, and seemed quite naturalized to the climate. A curious fact respecting the hatching of these arrots was, that they incubated at all seasons, ne female laying eggs in the winter, as well as in the summer, and sat on, and brought up the young ones. It was observed, that almost every brood ‘ollowed in more rapid succession, and that fewer of the young ones were lost. The number of eggs hatched at a time, varied from three to ix; but they have had four productive eggs at a time, which they reared, and brought to perfection. The period the female sat on her eggs, was from twenty to twenty-five days,— depending on the time of the year and state of the atmosphere. _ The eggs were about the size of those of Pigeons. They were of a pyriform shape, slightly flattened at the broadend. The young ones continued nearly naked, with only a few scattered fibres, till about the fifteenth day, if the season was warm, and till a 48 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS the twentieth, if it were cold ; at which time they received a very thick covering of soft, pale, slate- gray coloured down. It was not till the thirtieth day that the feathers began to appear, which were not perfected for ten days thereafter. They aban- doned the nest when three months old, at which time they could feed themselves ; for to this period they were fed by the parent birds, who disgorge the food from their bills in the manner of Pigeons. At six months, their plumage had all the lustre and beauty of the adult birds; but they seemed not to reach their full maturity till from twelve to fifteen months. 4 The success attending the pairing of these birds is supposed to have resulted from their having been provided with a nesting-place, suited to thei habits. 3 A small barrel was procured, and pierced, towards the third of its height, with a hole, of about si inches in diameter. In the bottom was placed ¢ quantity of saw-dust, three inches in thickness. On this the female laid her eggs, and sat till they were hatched. In the month of April, 1822, M. de. Gabriae oa together a pair of Peacock Parrots, (Psittacus Guyanesis,) from South America, and endeavoured to make them breed. On the 18th May following, an egg was discovered in their nest; three days after, a second; then a third, and a fourth, wi : the same interval as that observed between the laying of the first and second. Two of these eggs ~ OF PARROTS. 49 were found to be clear; and the other two, when broken by M. de Gabriac, after an incubation of twenty-five days, presented two dead fcetuses, one of which might have existed about six days, and the other twelve. M. de Gabriac attributed the failure in this instance to the great quantity of electricity diffused through the atmosphere during the month of June of that year. The Parrots were separated at this time, kept apart for ten days, and again put together on the Ist July. On the 14th the female laid an egg, which, as at first, was accompanied with three others, on the 17th, 20th, and 23d days of the month. It was always at six or seven o’clock in the evening that they were laid. On the 6th August the first egg was hatched, and the others on every succeeding third day; that is to say, on the 9th, 12th, and 15th, all in the evening, about the time at which they had been laid. The observations of M. de Gabriac prove, that, in this species of Parrot, the period of incubation is twenty-three days. The young, when first excluded from the eggs, were covered with a gray down. Since the experiments on the breeding of Parrots were made at Caen and Paris, the Collared Parra- keet (Psittacus torquatus) of Senegal has been bred at Paris. Places fitted for building were scooped out in large blocks of wood, into which the parent birds fixed their nests. _ Indeed, all the experiments which have been tried of E oo > dl 50 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS on this interesting subject have been attended wi the most favourable results. And we have little doubt but that we may be able to supply our aviari by naturalized specimens of the numerous birds the interesting family of Parrots, which are ss to our country. In a wild state, Parrots feed ouiniipalie on th pulps of fruit; those of the banana, the coffee-tree, the lemon, and palm, are their especial favourit They are particularly fond of almonds; and pene- trate the pulp only that they may get to the kernel. They shew great dexterity in opening the shell, which they do by placing the separation of th valves in a line with the cutting edge of their upper mandible ; and by the strong pressure which they apply, soon separate the valves, which they adroitly reject, and devour the almond itself. Some of the New South Wales Cockatoos feed on roots, and others on herbs. The favourite food o the Carolina Parrot is the cockle-bur; while, in South America, they feed on the guava, the acajou, and the berries of many species of aromatic plants. In a domesticated condition, the whole family of Parrots will eat almost any kind of food; bread, biscuit, and potatoes are much relished by some of the species. ‘They are also partial to seeds, and thrive well on hemp-seed, from which they remove the husks with great facility ; but the oil which these seeds contain is of so penetrating a nature, that it communicates a strong and rather disagreeable odour to their plumage. They will, also, take OF PARROTS. 51 animal food, and they not unfrequently acquire a trong predilection for it. Indeed, instances have een known when they rejected all other nutriment. ‘This predilection has been supposed, in some imstances, to have produced in Parrots a relish for plucking out their own feathers, so that they might suck the blood from the stems. Some have been so much addicted to this, that they stripped their whole bodies, not even excepting the down, the larger eathers of their wings and tails alone being left, in onsequence of the pain that would have been pecasioned by plucking them out. Latreille, the celebrated entomologist, had a Parrot whieh so completely denuded itself, that Desmarest said, -“ It resembled a pullet ready plueked for roasting.” In this naked condition it survived, with unim- paired health and appetite, two rigorous winters. 'Vieillot, however, is of opinion, that it is not, from n acquired habit of eating animal food that Parrots thus plucked out their plumage, but from some irritation in the skin. Our own observation has aught us to believe, that animal food produces an intense itching in the Parrot’s skin, which gives rise to this habit; and we have known it induced by giving the bird a small quantity of butter, which hanced to be slightly impregnated with salt. Parrots drink frequently, but in small quantities : ‘im this operation, they raise their heads less than is ne custom with other birds. In a domestic state, they have been taught to drink wine, and to eat bread which has been immersed in wine. 52 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS The whole tribe seem fond of water, and may be seen in great numbers on the borders of streams, 01 in marshy places, in their native haunts, washing and bathing themselves, even several times a-day; and, having shaken the water from their plumage, spread their wings to be dried by the sun and air. They exhibit the same predilection for bathing ina captive, as they do in a wild state. . M. Levaillant is of opinion, that domestication has the effect of changing the colour of the plumage’ of birds of this family, as is the case with other birds under the dominion of man; and thus producing the numerous varieties observable in Parrots. Many Parrots attain a great age; the mean duration of their existence being estimated at forty years. But there have been instances of their living | in captivity to ninety and even one hundred years. That division called Parrakeets are shorter lived, from twenty-five to thirty years being the orn length of their lives. In internal structure, Parrots have several pecu- liarities. The cranium is rounded and strong; the os furcatum is somewhat pointed towards the sternum, and formed like the letter V. The sternum is provided with a large keel, or median crest ; and it has neither lateral nor posterior emargination 5 its body is ample, and furnished with an oval foramen, of moderate dimensions, and closed by @ membrane situated near the abdomen, as in preda-— tory birds, and the division of birds termed Palmi- pedes. They have a complicated lower larynx, | OF PARROTS. 53 - which is furnished with three muscles peculiar in eir form, which, united to the mobile properties of the tongue, appears to fit these birds, in an eminent degree, for imitating the human voice. The gizzard, in its formation, is like that of granivorous and fragivorous birds. They have very long intestines, and are not provided with any ccecum ; the liver is of medium size, divided into two nearly equal lobes. The heart is moderately large, with an obtusely rounded end. The spleen is small and round. Parrots are subject to the same diseases as other birds ; and they have one or two peculiar to their kind. They are sometimes struck by a kind of apoplectic blow, by which they fall from their perches, and for a while seem ready to expire. Bleeding in the foot is recommended as a remedy for this. The Maccaws seem to be more subject to ‘this complaint than any others of their congeners. Many are also subject to gout, or a disease nearly resembling it. They are also liable to cramp; more especially when allowed to perch on metal, which is but too frequently the case, in consequence of their destructive propensities. They should always have a wooden perch, as metals, being greater ‘eonductors of caloric than wood, the heat is ‘abstracted from their feet and legs, and produces eramp. To those who object to the frequent ‘renewal of fir perches, we would recommend highly ‘polished hard wood, such as beech or mahogany, E 2 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE FACULTIES OF i. PARROTS. R) Amonc the numerous foreign birds which are imported into Great Britain, the family of Parrots — are better known than any others. They are especial pets, from the splendour of their plumage, the extreme docility of their manners, and their great intelligence. The sagacity which Parrots exhibit in a state of domestication, is also natural to them in their native forests. They associate together in large flocks, and mutually assault such animals as attempt to attack any individual of their community, and = their courage discomfit their enemy, or intimate an 1 unwelcome intruder by their notes of warning. 4 Although many of the feathered tribes have thei . faculty of imitating the human voice, yet none them in this respect can be at all compared IMITATIVE FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 55 many different species of Parrots. The voice of ‘the Raven is too hoarse, that of the Jay and Magpie too sharp, to resemble the truth; but the note of Parrots is of the true pitch, and susceptible of nearly as much variety of modulation as that of man himself. It is truly surprising with what facility they imitate and acquire different words, and even sentences. We have now beside us a specimen of the common Green Parrot, which we borrowed to study its habits. For the first time, it heard this day the name of Emily called out pretty sharply from our lobby; it instantly imitated the word, as distinctly and as nearly as possible, in the same tone: it made a second attempt at the word, but with less success. This name was repeatedly pronounced before it in the course of the day, and it, frequently imitated it with great distinctness. There must be something in the sound of this name which has affected its ear; for we have tried it with a variety of other words, which it has never once attempted to repeat. It has been mentioned, that a Parrot was taught to repeat a whole sonnet from Petrarch; and Goldsmith says, —“ That I may not be wanting in ‘my instance, I have seen a Parrot, belonging to a distiller, who had suffered pretty largely in his circumstances, from an informer who lived opposite him, very ridiculously employed. This bird was taught to pronounce the ninth commandment — Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neigh- 56 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE bour—with a very clear, loud, articulate voice, — The bird was generally placed, in its cage, over against the informer’s house, and delighted the — whole neighbourhood with its persevering exhor- tations.” Locke, in his Essay on the Human Understand- ing, quotes the following anecdote of a conversing Parrot, from the “ Remains of what passed at Christendom from 1672 to 1679,” in such a way as to Jead us to suppose that he believed it. “ When Prince Maurice was Governor of Brazil, he was informed of an old Parrot that was much spoken — of, in consequence of being able to converse like a rational creature,—at least, it would answer the — questions that were put to it. It was at a distance from the seat of government; but having heard — much of its merits, the curiosity of the Viceroy became roused, and he directed that it should be — sent for, that he might in person examine into the © fact. When it was first introduced into the room where the Prince sat, with several Dutch gentle- men, it immediately exclaimed, in the Brazilian | language, ‘ What a company of white men are — here!’ Pointing to the Prince, they asked, ‘ Who is that man?’ The Parrot answered, ‘ Some general | or other’ When the attendants carried it up to him, he asked, through the medium of ‘an interpre- ter, (as he was ignorant of its language,) ‘ Whence do you come?’ The Parrot answered, ‘ From Marignan. The Prince asked, ‘ To whom you belong?’ It answered, ‘To a Portuguese.” a FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 57 ‘He asked again, ‘ What do you do here?’ <« I look after chickens.’ The Prince, laughing, exclaimed, ‘ You look after chickens?’ The Parrot, in answer, said ‘ Yes, I; and I know well enough how to do it, —clucking, at the same time, in imitation of the notes of a hen when calling together her young. “ The author of the memoir, in which the account of this Parrot is contained, says, that he had it directly from Prince Maurice, who remarked, that although the Parrot spoke in a language he did not understand, yet he could not be deceived ; for he had in the room, both a Dutchman who spoke Brazilian, and a Brazilian who spoke Dutch; and that he asked them separately and privately, and both agreed exactly in their account of the Parrot’s discourse.” | Willughby mentions a curious story of a Parrot. He says, “ A Parrot belonging to King Henry VII, who then resided at Westminster, in his palace by the river Thames, was learned to talk many words from the passengers, as they happened to take the water. One day, sporting on its perch, the poor bird fell into the water, at the same time crying out as loud as he could, A boat! twenty pounds for a boat! A waterman, who happened to be near, hearing the cry, made to the place where the Parrot was floating, and, taking him up, restored him to the king, as it seems the bird was a favourite.” -_ We are informed by Clusius, that “ A certain Brazilian woman, that lived in a village two miles istant from the island on which we resided, had a ei - 58 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE Parrot which was the wonder of the place. It seemed endued with such understanding, as to discern and comprehend whatever she said to it. As we sometimes had to pass-that woman’s house, — she used to call upon us to stop, promising, if we . gave her a comb or a looking-glass, that she would make her Parrot sing and dance to entertain us, If we agreed to her request, as soon as she had pronounced some words to the bird, it began not only to leap and. skip on the perch on which it © stood, but also to talk and to whistle, and imitate the shoutings and exclamations of the Brazilians, when they prepare for battle. In brief, when it came into the woman’s head to bid it sing, it sang; to dance, it danced. But if, contrary to our pro- — mise, we refused to give the woman the little present agreed on, the Parrot seemed to sympathise — in her resentment, and was silent and immoveable ; | neither could we, by any means, provoke it to move either foot or tongue.” Father Bougot gives the following account of the Yellow-winged Parrot, (Psittacus ochropterus.) “ It is,” says he, “ extremely susceptible of attach- — ment to its master; it is fond of him, but requires” frequent caresses, and seems disconsolate if ne- glected, and vindictive if provoked. It has fits of obstinacy; it bites during its ill humour, and | immediately laughs, exulting in its mischief. Cor- rection and rigorous treatment only harden it; __ gentle usage alone succeeds in mollifying its temper. « The inclination to gnaw whatever it can rez FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 59 is very destructive in its effeets; it cuts the cloth of the furniture, splits the wood of the chairs, and tears paper, pens, and other articles. And if it be removed from the spot, its proneness to contra- diction will instantly bring it back. But this mischievous bent is counterbalanced by agreeable qualities, for it remembers readily what it is taught © to say. Before articulating, it claps its wings, and plays on its roost; in the cage it becomes dejected, and continues silent, and never prattles well except when it enjoys liberty. “ In its cheerful days it is affectionate, receives and returns caresses, and listens and obeys; though a peevish fit often interrupts the harmony. It seems affected by the change of weather, and becomes silent; the way to reanimate it is to sing beside it, and it then strives, by its noisy screams, to surpass the voice which excites it. It is fond of children, in which respect it differs from most other Parrots. It contracts a predilection for some of them, and will bite ferociously any person who then attempts to touch them. If its favourite children leave it, it is unhappy, follows, and calls loudly after them. During the time of moulting it is much reduced, and seems to endure great pain; and this ‘state lasts for nearly three months.” The following anecdote is mentioned in the Sporting Magazine for July, 1816. From Sporting Excursions at the Cape: —* In passing by the garden,” (of a house they visited,) “ we heard a talking, which our Portuguese, after attentively a 60 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE listening, pronounced to be ‘ plain Dutch ; nor we it long before we had a specimen of as ‘ plain English” After our ears were saluted with the squalling and screaming of a fowl in distress, and, indeed, in the act of being strangled, which excited — our astonishment, as we could see all around us, the ~ voice of a boy under flagellation was heard, cryin out most lustily, ¢« O Lord, sir! O Lord, sir! Dil be d d if it was I, sir; I never saw the old cock — before, sir!’ To unravel this mystery, we went bac to the house once more, and in making known the strange circumstance, we were conducted to the garden, and a tree was pointed out to us, where we ~ saw, almost enveloped in the thick foliage, the arch : deceiver in the shape of a large Cockatoo. I was at a loss which to admire most, the half-stifled and broken sobbing, (if I may so call it,) of the fowl, ¢ the outcry of the boy, as detected in killing and ~ stealing what belonged to his neighbour. The girls told us that their father had lately given the amazing price of fifteen dollars for this bird in Cape Town; — that it spoke in different languages, but that in all of them it made use of such gross expressions, @ nd swore so profanely, they supposed they should ‘soon — be obliged to part with it. Nor would they stay long in the garden, possibly fearing a repetition of ‘plain Dutch’ by the same author. It was a remarkably fine bird, in full feather, and nearl white ; and in shutting its eyes, a large sort of fa as if turning on a spindied rose-up on either sic from the neck, and covered them completely.” Br «ij FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 61 ’ Inthe Contemplations de la Nature of M. Bonnet, we find the following interesting account of two birds of this tribe. “ A solitary gentleman, whose prin- cipal delight had been in observing the unsophisti- cated conduct of animals, and contrasting it with the corrupt manners of man, which differ so widely from those of Nature, gives the following account of the affection of two birds. They were of that kind of Parroquet, called Guinea Sparrows, and kept in a Square cage, such as is usually appropriated to that species of bird. The cup which contained their food was placed in the bottom of the cage. The male was almost continually seated on the same perch with the female. They sat close together, and viewed each other from time to time with evident tenderness. If they separated, it was but for a few moments, for they hastened to return and resume their situation. ‘They commonly took their food together, and then retired to the highest perch of the cage. They often appeared to engage ina kind of conversation, which was continued for some time, and they seemed to answer each other, varying their sounds, and elevating and lowering their voices. Sometimes they seemed to quarrel, but those emo- tions were but of a momentary duration, and suc- ceeded by additional tenderness. This happy pair thus passed four years in a climate greatly different from that in which they had before lived. At the end of that period the female fell into a state of languor, which had all the appearance of old age. Her legs swelled and grew knotty. It was no F — y 64 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE Parrots have also been known to mimic gestures and § actions. Scaliger saw one that performed the dance § of the Savoyards, at the same time that it repeated § their song. It was fond of hearing a person sing; § and when it saw any one dance, would try to imitate them, but with a very awkward grace. | The following curious circumstance occurred ¥ with a couple of Parrots in London. A tradesman, § who had a shop in the Old Bailey, opposite the prison, kept two Parrots, much to the annoyance of his § neighbours, one of which was green, and the other 9 gray. The green Parrot was taught to speak when | there was a knock at the street door —the gray put in his word whenever the bell was rung ; but they only knew two short phrases of English a-piece, though they pronounced these very distinctly. The house in which these Thebans lived, had a projecting | old-fashioned front, so that the first floor could not | be seen from the pavement on the same side of the way; and one day, when they were left at home by themselves hanging out of a window, some one knocked at the street door. “ Who’s there?” said the green Parrot, in the exercise of his office. “ The man with the leather!” was the reply; to which the bird answered with his farther store of language, which was, * Oh, ho!” Presently, the door not being opened as he expected, the stranger knocked a second time. “ Who’s there?” said the green Parrot again. * D)—n you, who’s there!” said the man with. the leather, “ why don’t you come down?” to ee the Parrot again made the same answer, “ Oh, ho!” FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 65 _ This response so enraged the visitor, that he dropped the knocker, and rung furiously at the house bell; but this proceeding brought the gray Parrot, who called out in a new voice, “ Go to the gate.” —“ To the gate!” muttered the appellant, who saw no such convenience, and moreover imagined that the ser- vants were bantering him. “ What gate?” cried he, getting out into the kennel, that he might have the advantage of seeing his interlocutor. “ New- gate,” responded the gray Parrot—just at the moment when his species was discovered. Some years since, a Parrot in Boston, America, that had been taught to whistle, in the manner of _ealling a dog, was sitting in his cage, at the door of a shop. As he was exercising himself in this kind of whistle, a large dog happened to be pass- ing the spot. The animal, imagining that he heard the call of his master, turned suddenly about, and ran towards the cage of the Parrot. At this critical moment, the bird exclaimed, vehemently, “Get out, you brute!” The astonished dog hastily retreated, leaving the Parrot to enjoy the joke. A gentleman who resided at Gosport, in Hamp- shire, and had frequent business across the water to Portsmouth, was astonished one day, on going to the beach to look for a boat, and finding none, to hear the words, distinctly repeated, “ Over, master? Going over?” (which is the manner that watermen are in the habit of accosting people, when they are waiting for passengers.) The ery | F 2 66 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE still assailing his ears, he looked earnestly around him, to discover from whence the voice came$ when, to his great surprise, he beheld the Parrot, in a cage, suspended from a public house win- dow, on the beach, vociferating the boatman’s expressions. a: Willughby mentions a Parrot, which, when a person said to it, “ Laugh, Poll, laugh,” it laughed, accordingly ; and, immediately after, screamed out, “ What a fool! to make me laugh.” : A Parrot which had grown old with its master, shared with him the infirmities of age. Being accustomed to hear scarcely any thing but the words, “I am sick,” when a person asked it, “ How do you do?” “I am sick,” it replied, with a doleful tone, stretching itself along, “I am sick.” 7 . In October, 1822, the following announcement appeared in the London papers :—“ A few days ago, died, in Half Moon Street, Piccadilly, the cele- brated Parrot of Colonel O’Kelly. This singular bird sang a number of songs, in perfect time and tune. She could express her wants articulately, and give her orders in a manner nearly approaching to rationality. Her age was not known. It was, however, more than thirty years; for, previous to that period, Colonel O’Kelly bought her, at Bristol, for one hundred guineas. The Colonel was repeatedly offered five hundred guineas a-year — for the bird, by persons who wished to make a public exhibition of her; but this, out of tenderness FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 67 ‘to the favourite, he constantly refused.” This bird could not only repeat a great number of sen- tences, but also answer a number of questions put to her. When she sung, she beat time, with all the regularity of a scientific performer ; and she seemed so much alive to musical melody, that, if she mistook a note by accident. she would again revert to the bar where she had committed the error, still, however, waiting time, and p Smebnig her song, with much accuracy.” We are told by Comte de Buffon, that his sister had a Parrot which would frequently speak to him- - self, and seemed to fancy that some one addressed him. He often asked for his paw, and answered by holding it up. Though he liked to hear the voice of children, he seemed to have an antipathy ‘to them, and bit them till he drew blood. He had also his objects of attachment, and though his choice was not very nice, it was constant. He was exces- sively fond of the cook-maid ; followed her every where, sought for her when absent, and seldom missed finding her. If she had been some time out of his sight, the bird climbed with his bill and claws to her shoulders, and lavished on her his caresses. His fondness had all the marks of close and warm friendship. The girl happened to have a sore finger, which was tedious in healing, and so painful as to make her scream. While she uttered her moans, the Parrot never left her chamber. The first thing he did every day, was to pay her a visit; 68 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE and this tender condolence lasted the whole time of her confinement, when he returned to his former calm and settled attachment. Yet all this strong predilection for the girl would seem to have been more directed to her office in the kitchen, than to her person; for when another — cook-maid succeeded her, the Parrot shewed the same degree of fondness to the new comer, the very first day of his arrival. Mr Jennings, of Great Wakering, in Essex, had a Parrot, which for many years manifested the strongest attachment towards him. When in the house the — Parrot was constantly perched upon his shoulder ; and if compelled to move, which he would not do, without reluctance, he could by no means be induced - to go farther than the back of his master’s chair. The bird expressed the greatest uneasiness during his master’s absence; and at the hour of dinner, — would uniformly go to the end of the court, call him by name, and anxiously remain there until he had attained his object. After some years, the master became ill, which — the faithful bird felt with the most poignant sen- — sibility ; and when at length death deprived him — of his kind protector, the bird declined all suste- — nance; and, perching himself on the back of the chair, | which had been the scene of happier days, gave himself up to the most exquisite grief, until the — day of his master’s interment ; when, after moaning & and lamenting, in a manner so audible and impres- — ..| . bs ( FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 69 _ sive, as to increase the affliction of the family, he sank down and died, a victim to an attachment as faithful as ever subsisted between human beings. -- Dr Thornton had a Blue Maccaw, which attracted great attention at the time. ‘This extraordinary bird was in servitude at Mr Brook’s menagerie, in Haymarket. Like others of his tribe, he was chained by the leg, and fed upon scalded bread. Here he learned to imitate the cackling of fowls, the barking of dogs; to mimic his exhibitors, and other human sounds. It was bought by Dr Thornton for fifteen guineas, to grace his museum, or botanical exhibition. When in a confined room in Bond Street, he made those screaming noises so offensive in his tribe. He ‘seemed sulky and unhappy; Lut being brought to the doctor’s house, (his botanical exhibition being closed,) the doctor, from motives of humanity as well as for experiment, took away the chain that confined him to his perch. His feet were so cramped, and the muscles so much weakened from long disuse, that he could not walk. He tottered ‘at every step, and appeared, in a few minutes only, greatly fatigued. His liberated feet, however, soon acquired uncommon agility ; his plumage grew more resplendent, and he became completely happy. He no longer indulged in screams of discontent, and all his gestures denoted gratitude. His food was now changed, and he breakfasted with the family, having toast and butter; and dined upon potatoes, hard dumplings, with fruit occasionally after dinner. He 70 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE never drank like other Parrots. His sense of smelling — was uncommonly quick. He was quite acquainted with the time of meals, which he marked by a con- tinued agitation of the wings, running up and down the pole, and uttering a pleasing note of request. When he received his food, he half opened his wings, and contracted the pupils of his eyes, and — uttered a pleasing note of thankfulness. If he got — any food of which he was not very fond, he took it in his left foot, and having eaten a little, threw the rest down; but if the food were nice and abundant, he carefully conveyed it to his tin reservoir, and left for another repast that which he could not consume in the meantime. He soon forgot his barbarous sounds, and imitated words; and for, hours together amused himself in saying “ Poll,” — “ Maccaw,” —“ Turn him out,” —<“ Pretty fellow,” — “Saucy fellow,”—“ What’s o’clock ?’—laughing, and calling out the names of the doctor’s children. If any were hurt, he gave the first alarm; nor did he desist until they were attended to. The doctor’s son, observing the sagacity of this bird, undertook toinstruct him. He taught him at word of command, to descend from his perch, and stand upon his finger ; then by another order, he turned himself downwards, and hung upon the fore finger by one foot, although the body was swung about with much violence. Being next asked —how a person should be served ? the spectator waited for an answer, but the bird said nothing, and seizing his master’s finger, sus- — pended himself by his bill, like one hanging. At Tt ae eS FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 71 the desire of his master he extended his wings to shew their beauty. He would then fan the spec- tators with his wings. He was next put on the ground, and then walked as readily backwards as forwards, with his two toes in front, and two behind. He would then clamber like a sailor up the mizen, and with his two open mandibles embraced his perch, which was nearly two inches in thickness. Placed there, he was asked —if a certain gentleman were to come near him, how he should be served? He shook his head several times, raised his wings, erected his feathers, and opened his mouth, laid hold of a finger, seemingly in earnest, and kept biting it, as though he would have taken it off, opposing every resistance; and when he liberated the finger, uttered a scream. He was then asked how he would serve his master ?— when he would gently bite his finger, caressed it with his beak and tongue, and held his head down, as expecting it to be scratched. Nor is this all: a nut being given to him, while on the lower part of his stand, he mounted the upright stick, and the nut disappeared without the spectator being able to tell how. At the word of command he presented it to the company, held it in his paw, and then cracked it. He had been taught to conceal the nut under his tongue, in the hollow of the under mandible. When a peach stone was given to him, _he found out its natural division, and after repeated % . efforts, he contrived to open it and eat the kernel. When nuts were presented to him, he became all agitated; and he had so much sagacity, that, q 72 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE without cracking, when he took up a bad nut, he knew it to be so without cracking it, and very indignantly threw it on the ground. He was remarkably fond of music; and with motions of his | feet along the perch, movements of his wings, and his head moving backwards and forwards, he danced to all lively tunes, and kept exact time. If any one sung or played in wrong measure, he quickly desisted. t He was very friendly to strangers, and put on a terrific appearance towards children, for fear of injury from them, and was very jealous of infants. In rainy weather the blue feathers looked green 3 : ‘ and also in clear weather, when there were vapours | in the sky; hence he was an admirable weather= gage. What proved a peculiar sagacity in his imitations, was, that they were effected sometimes without his voice : for example, there was a scissors- | grinder, who came every Friday into the street where the bird was kept. All Parrots have a file in the inside of the upper mandible, with which they | grind down the under bill, and in this they are employed for an hour every evening. This sound | people usually mistake for snoring. This scraping was attempted, but the nice ear marked the differ- ence, and he had recourse to his claws, which he struck against the perch, armed with tin, and obser- ving the time of the turning of the wheel, he effected a most exact imitation, which he repeated every Friday. Sometimes the child’s pap would be taken’ to the window, and beaten with the spoon: this he i" FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 73 would immediately imitate, by striking his broad ill against the sides of his perch. The light of candles would awaken him, and he would then dance and discriminate persons ; but on being presented with sugar, or any food, he often missed it. He frequently on such occasions became anxious to be held upon the hands, to flutter his wings ; but he never seemed to have any inclination to fly, and appeared perfectly happy in the pera? liberty which he enjoyed. That Parrots are sufficiently alive to their own interest, is a fact well illustrated by the history of a large Red Maccaw, which belonged to an honourable and gallant friend of ours, who was lately Governor of Trinidad. This Parrot was accustomed to fly about all over the capital of the island, and being known as the Governor’s bird, he ‘met every where with that respect which is usually paid to those who are clothed in scarlet and gold, and who live in palaces. At first, his perigrinations were made with great care, to keep himself free from all chance of exposure to injury or insult from the canaille. But, as he -gradually discovered that the inhabitants, of all kinds and colours, so far om offering him offence of any sort, were rather disposed to yield the wall or the “ crown of the auseway” to him, wherever he appeared, he grew woud, and bold, and conceited, and strutted through e streets with an air of insolent superiority, as if regarded all birds, beasts, and human beings, as eptiles of the earth in comparison with himself. — z G verse Ghge 74 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE Now would he, like Peter Pindar’s Jackdaw, stop to “peep knowingly into a marrowbone ;” at another moment, he would fly in at the window of some. house or shop, where he would pry through all the apartments, and into every hole and corner, as if he were the master of it. Again, if he felt himself fatigued, or if, perchance, his fancy struck him to do so, he would whip upon the head or ‘shoulder of any passenger — man, woman, or child — just as a Londoner would pop into a hackney coach or a cabriolet, as a means of transportation from one end of the town to the other. But, whilst thus following out the bent of his amusement, he never lost sight of his more solid interests; for, by a certain hour of the day, he was sure to find his. way to that part of the town where the fruit market. was held, and there, like the Bashaw of some Turkish province, he went about helping himself from all the baskets, the owners of which, by their reception of him, seemed to consider themselves highly honoured by his thus condescending to plunder them, and he generally returned to the government-house so gorged, that he required a siesta of some considerable duration before he was able to entertain the company with the utterance of his every day facetie. Parrots are sometimes extremely quick in pick- ing up certain words that happen to ‘strike their ears, and this they often do very untowardly, so as afterwards to repeat them with an apparently mischievous intent; of which, however, they ought FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 75 to be entirely acquitted, since the strange coinci- dences which they sometimes produce, are merely the result of accident, like those which are often set down as the accomplishment of modern dreams or prophecies. We remember a Parrot which belonged to a lady, which was the inno- cent means of getting his mistress into a very unfortunate scrape. A friend of hers having called one forenoon, the conversation of the two ladies took that turn towards petty scandal, to which, we grieve to say, it is but too frequently bent. The friend mentioned- the name of a lady of their acquaintance. “ Mrs !” exclaimed the owner of the Parrot, “ Mrs drinks like a fish.” These words were hardly uttered, when the footman, in a loud voice, announced “ Mrs !” and as the new visitor, a portly, proud dame, came sailing into the room, “ Mrs 3 exclaimed the Parrot, “ Mrs drinks like a fish.” Mrs wheeled round, with the celerity of a troop of heavy dragoons, furiously to confront her base and unknown maligner. “ Mrs i cried the Parrot again “ Mrs drinks like a fish.” “ Madam,” exclaimed Mrs to the lady of the house, “ this is a piece of wickedness towards me which must have taken you no short time to prepare. It shews the blackness of your heart towards one for whom you have long pre- tended a friendship; but I shall be revenged.” It was in vain that the mistress of the Parrot rose and protested her innocence; Mrs flounced iS Naas 76 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE out of the room in a storm of rage, much too loud to admit of the voice of reason being heard. The Parrot, delighted with his new caught up words, © did nothing for some days but shout out, at the © top of his most unmusical voice, “ Mrs 7 Mrs drinks like a fish.” Meanwhile, Mrs ’s lawyers having once taken up the scent, © succeeded in ferretting out some information, that ultimately produced written proofs, furnished by some secret enemy, that the lady’s imprudence in the propagation of this scandal had not been con- fined to the instance we have mentioned. An action at law was raised for defamation. The Parrot was arrested and carried into court, to give oral testimony of the malignity of the plot which was supposed to have been laid against Mrs ’s good fame; and he was by no means niggardly of his testimony, for, to the great amuse- ment of the bench, the bar, and all present, he was no sooner produced, than he began, and continued loudly to vociferate, “ Mrs ! Mrs drinks like a fish!” till judges and jury were alike satisfied of the merits of the case; and the result was, that the poor owner of the Parrot was cast with immense damages. Another incident, somewhat less serious in its consequences, but yet extremely mortifying, oc- curred to the family of a worthy citizen, who, by a laudable attention to business, had accumu-— lated so considerable a fortune, as to enable him to purchase a very nice villa," not an hundred ] FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 77 miles from Hampstead. The worthy man had always enjoyed moderate comforts, whilst he could; but it was his misfortune to marry a wife, who made a point of ruling the roast, if she ever allowed him to have sucha thing. This lady had an only daughter, by a former marriage ; and as her greatest desire in life was to see the girl well settled in the world, she spared neither pains nor expense to effect her object. But this only whetted her natural parsimony at all other times,— her maxim being, to save all in secret, in order to be the better able to spare nothing in public; and this she carried into practice, by setting her good- natured husband daily down to fare of the humblest possible description. One great economical scheme of hers was, the establishment of a piggery. On one celebrated occasion, she made a very profitable sale to a butcher of some half dozen or so of the fatted inhabitants of her styes ; and, that she might make the most of every thing, she supplied her husband’s table, whilst it lasted, with little else than fried pig’s liver. As the good citizen was generally pretty ready for his meal, on his return from his daily business, the Parrot often heard, and joined in the call which his master’s arrival produced, to “come away with the pig’s liver,” which the lady vociferated over the stair to Re- becca, her only domestic, a great red cheeked, raw boned girl, fresh from the country. But in the midst of these daily commons, the lady was sparing no expense for a grand dinner which | G2 78 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE 4 she was about to give. By some accident the mother and daughter had picked up an acquain- tance with a young man of quality, who had_ been struck with the showy figure of the young lady. Speculations and plots followed; and, with the bold decision of an able general, the fond mother resolved to complete her daughter’s con- quest by a coup de main; and the young gentleman having rode out that way, with two of his fashionable companions, she lost not a moment in asking them all to take what she called a family dinner, at the villa, on an early day, which she named. For this the choicest viands and wines were provided, and a French cook and powdered waiter were procured, and a quantity of plate was hired in for the occasion; so that the worthy lady felt so strong, both in troops and in the materiel de guerre, that she already, in imagination, beheld her daughter as the wife of the young honourable. The day, and the hour, and the guests arrived. Dinner was served. The lady so managed matters, that her daughter was seated next to her admirer. Operas and balls were talked of; every thing was’ in apple-pie order; the soup and fish courses passed away; and a haunch of venison was an- nounced, ambiguously stated as being from the park of a noble friend,—the real fact being, that it was purchased from a butcher, who had it from his lordship’s keeper. During the interval tha took place before its appearance, John was des- patched for champagne. The company waited J FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 79 a but neither venison, nor champagne, nor servant peared. A dead silence ensued, —a silence that = agony to the lady. Minutes were added to minutes ; ; the good old citizen rose from his chair, and rang the bell; it tingled in the ears of the company for a while— but its tingling was fruitless. ‘The suspense became fearful. “ What a pretty Parrot you have got,” said the young gentleman, at last, in despair. “He is a very pretty bird, indeed,” said the lady of the house, “and a very intelligent fellow, too, I assure you. What have you to say for yourself, Poll?” “Becky, Becky! the pig’s liver, and a pot of beer! Quick, quick! come away!” cried the Parrot. “ The horrid sailors teach these creatures to be so vulgar,” said the young lady, in a die-away tone. “ Becky, Becky!” cried the Parrot, “the pig’s liver! Quick, quick! Becky, Becky!” and, having been once roused from his lethargy, he continued to bawl out ‘the same words, at the top of his voice, till — what, ye gods! was the horror of the lady and her fair daughter, and what was the uncontrollable mirth of the three youths, when the great slip-shod ‘country wench entered the room, her left arm embracing an ample dish of smoking hot fried pig’s liver, and her right hand swinging a creaming pewter pot full of beer. “ Lenek ys indeed, it was that I had it ready, ma’am,” said she, as she set ‘the dish and the pot bang down before her mis- ess, with a self satisfied air, that seemed to crave F plause, “for Jowler, the big watch-dog, has 80 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE runned away wi’ the leg of carrion ; an’ mounseer, wi’ the white nightcap, and t’other chap, wi’ the}; flour on his head, will ha’ enough ado to catch un} After such a denouement, the catastrophe may b conceived. Goldsmith says, that “the extreme sagacity and}, docility of the bird, may be pleaded as the bes excuse for those who spend whole hours in teaching}. their Parrots to speak; and, indeed, the bird, on those occasions, seems the wiser animal of the two. He at first obstinately resists all instruction; bu seems to be won by perseverance, makes a few). attempts to imitate the first sounds, and when it has} got one word distinctly, all the succeeding words: come with greater facility. The bird generally learns more in those families where the master and! mistress have the least to do, and becomes more’ expert, in proportion as its instructors are idly assiduous. In going through the towns of France, some time since, I could not help observing how much plainer their Parrots spoke than ours, and how very distinctly I understood their Parrots speak French, when I could not understand our own, though they spake my native language. I was at first for ascribing it to the different qua- lities of the two languages, and was for entering into an elaborate discussion on the vowels and consonants; but a friend that was with me solved the difficulty at once, by assuring me that the French women scarcely did any thing else, the whole day, than sit and instruct their feathered FACULTIES OF PARROTS. Sl pupils; and that the birds were thus distinct in their lessons, in consequence of continual schocling.” Although Parrots are endowed with the faculty of imitating articulate sounds, in a much higher degree than all other animals, yet we must not consider this a proof of their superior intelligence, as approaching to that of human intellect. The brain of Parrots is larger and more perfect than that of any other of the races of birds. The organs are better developed, and more numerous in their convolutions, the anterior lobe of its hemi- spheres being more prolonged than in predatory birds, with a considerably wider encephalon, which is more flattened than long. But, with this supe- riority of cerebral development, we can by no means compare their intelligence with that of humanity. It forms, as it were, a point of contact, but it has no resemblance, —for all they utter is not from reflection, but from imitation ; and it is quite certain that they do not understand the meaning of the words or sentences which they chatter. There are two kinds of imitations connected with animal life. The one is entirely of a physical nature, and depends on organic similitude; the other is dependant on the mind. The first of these is possessed by Monkeys, Parrots, and other animals ; while the second is an attribute of man alone: the one dependant on memory only, with organic functions, fitted for acquiring; the other 82 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE t is dependant on mental reflection and study. But the immediate cause of our propensity to imitation, above that of other animals, arises from the greater facility with which, by the sense of touch, we acquire the ideas of the outline of objects, and, afterwards, in consequence, by the sense of sight. This seems to have been observed by Aristotle, who calls man “the imitative animal;” and is. thus finely described by Darwin : — Hence when the inquiring hands with contact fine Trace on hard forms the circumscribing line ; Which then the language of the rolling eyes From distant scenes of earth and heaven supplies ; Those clear ideas of the touch and sight Rouse the quick sense to anguish or delight ; Whence the fine power of imitation springs, And apes the outlines of external things ; With ceaseless action to the world imparts All moral virtues, languages, and arts. Physical and mental imitations are widely dif- ferent. That which can be acquired by an animal, being physical, dies with the animal, as he has not the power of transmitting it to others of his species. We never find any of the brute creation attempting to instruct its progeny in any of the acquirements which it has received under the tuition of man: the animal dies, and all his education perishes with him, and nothing remains to his progeny save the inherent qualities peculiar to his species: But how different is this with the human being! * - FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 83 First the charm’d mind mechanic powers collects, Means for some end, and causes for effects ; Then learns from other minds their joys and fears, Contagious smiles and sympathetic tears. While we readily admit to animals a certain extent of reasoning and reflecting powers, we see that they are incapable of improving their race, from their own experience and acquirements. Parrots are only Parrots, as they were in the time of the Mace- donian conqueror, without the slightest variation in their mental acquirements; but man has greatly improved by the accumulated experience of past ages. Generations do not pass away as if they had never existed: their labours, knowledge, and expe- rence, are inherited by posterity, and will so go on accumulating knowledge and experience to the latest moment of time. It is not to superior intelligence that we must attribute the imitative qualities of Parrots, but to an organic formation of the parts which produce the voice, aided by an aptitude in their musical capacity. For we find that the imitative propensities are not confined to this tribe alone, but are possessed in an inferior degree by Jays, Magpies, Starlings, and Blackbirds: the Mocking-bird of America, and even many of the smaller birds, have the faculty of imitating human speech, —all to be attributed to organic structure, rather than to superior intellectual endowments. While we have thus endeavoured to dispossess Parrots of any mental qualities, superior to those 84 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE which all animals enjoy, in a greater or less degree we willingly allow them a large portion of intelli gence. They possess many of those feelings which endear them to the human race. Most of the species are affectionate and docile, forming strong and lasting attachments to individuals. ‘They can express by their gestures and voice the strongest indications of regard, and will even caress the object of their attachment in a tender manner; while they utte sounds so expressive of regard, that they cannot be misunderstood by those who are accustomed to their company. ‘They can at once distinguish a stranger, and will not allow him to use any familiarity ; and to_ some individuals with whom they are acquainted, they sometimes manifest capricious aversion, which nothing but severity of treatment will subdue, and | that only in a temporary way ; for it has been known to continue for many years, and not to be overcome : either by caresses or correction. It has been asserted that male Parrots attach themselves to women in preference to men, and in- many instances will never be reconciled to the latter; and that females, on the other hand, are always most familiar with men. M. Vieillot is firmly of this” belief, and gives an instance of one which occurred in his own family. It was a male ash-coloured Parrot, which he never durst approach without bein provided with a pair of thick leather gloves. ‘Thi animal, however, was affectionate and obedient to Madame Vieillot, whom he caressed in the most tender manner. On the other hand, a female of the : FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 85 same species shewed marked symptoms of regard for him. We cannot, however, lay this down as a rule on such slender grounds. The natural notes of Parrots are, for the most part, harsh and discordant screams, and almost every species utters sounds peculiar to itself. All Parrots are susceptible of a considerable degree of education; but, as is the case with most other animals, the earlier their instruction commences the better. Various modes are adopted for impressing upon them obedience. Some of these consist in punishments, and others in rewards. Of the latter, sugar, sweet wine, and stone fruit, form important articles of temptation; and, as punishments, immer- sion in cold water, and puffing at them with tobacco smoke, are resorted to. Another powerful stimulant is to scratch their head, of which they are exces- sively fond, as indeed are almost the whole feathered creation ; and nothing so soon renders smaller birds tame and familiar as frequently taking them in the hand and scratching their heads. Parrots are also soon taught to obey by using loud and authoritative nes to them; and they are extremely susceptible impressions from mild and affectionate words. The whole of the Parrot tribe, when taken old, very fierce in their disposition, and difficult to e; the savages, however, have the art of subduing em more speedily than other people. One of their thods is with the smoke of tobacco, as before ntioned. This produces in them a kind of intoxi- cation and faintness. When the effects of the smoke H 86 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE . have subsided, the birds subjected to its influenl may be handled with less danger of being bitten. If, on the contrary, they are still unruly, the opera tion is repeated again and again till it is effectual. — Whether in a natural or captive state, Parro’ have universally very destructive propensities. Th ey) seem to have the greatest pleasure in laying waste’ every thing within their reach. This is most con- spicuous with the larger species. Wherever they settle in flocks, they leave unequivocal marks of their devastations. The bark of trees, young branches, and leaves, are torn to pieces; and fruits which they cannot consume, are wantonly separated from. thei stems, and cast to the ground; and those that sti remain are mutilated by their destructive bills. a state of captivity they are equally mischievous: furniture is minced, and books, or any thing wi their reach, torn to pieces. The perches of their cages, if made of wood, seldom last for a few days and even the wires are twisted and bent, unless th are very strong. di The Amazon Parrot (Psittacus e@stivus) and the Gray Parrot (Psitiacus erythacus) are most susceptible of education of all their congeners, They can articulate more distinctly, and imitate more naturally the cries of animals, and particular sounds, than any others of their tribe. A friend of ours, in Great King street, Edinburgh, has a Parrot; which keeps excellent time to a rinnoehatal while the lady of the house is playing. This it does bya chicking sound, and occasionally by a strange kind FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 87 of note. They have been taught to whistle airs consisting of several bars, going through the tune with much precision and effect. Instances have been known of these species imitating the human voice in singing, and with so much modulation, that strangers are deceived by it. This is the more remarkable, as the natural notes of both these species are harsh and grating in the extreme. It is said, by those who have visited the native retreats of these two species, that they are to be seen in vast flocks, and perched on trees, uttering, more espe- cially in the morning, the most disagreeable and even tremendous screaming. - It is not in vocal imitations alone that Parrots are capable of instruction; for they can be taught to perform various gestures, and to assume some curious postures. They have been instructed to lie down on their backs at the word of command, and to continue, as if dead, without moving a limb, until their master ordered them to rise, when they would suddenly start to their feet. They can be taught to dance, and to use a stick, with which they perform several curious evolutions. Scaliger saw one that performed the dance of the Savoyards, at the same time that it repeated their song. It delighted in hearing any one sing, and when it saw them dance, it tried to imitate their gestures. - Parrots are instructed to articulate sounds, by constantly repeating to them the words which it is intended they should acquire. The Brazilians seek after young Parrots with 88 INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE ; i great avidity, that they may possess them before. they acquire the harsh and wild notes peculiar to. their species: but such is the demand for youngy ones, that they are frequently unable to find a sufficient number, and consequently take old birds, ) which they shoot in the woods, by means of heavy arrows, headed with cotton, which knock down the birds without killing them : many of them, however, die of the injuries they receive by the fall. M. d’Azzara says, that the natives of Paraguay capture Parrots in the following singular manner: To the trees frequented by Parrots, two pieces of wood are attached; some pieces of stick are laid across from the pieces of wood as far as the tree, and a kind of cabin is constructed with palm leaves, of sufficient dimensions to conceal an individual, who carries with him a tame Parrot, which, by its cries, attracts the wild ones, who come to its aid. The bird-catcher being provided with a long wand, to which is affixed a running knot of string, as soon as the wild birds alight near the tame one, he quickly passes the noose round their necks, and’ captures them. Several of these wands are used at a time, and as he is himself in ambush, he paldom fails to take a bird with each. The savages of South America capture Parrots for the purpose of food, as well as for disposing of them. The larger species are said to be very tough and ill tasted; but some of the smaller kinds, especially Parrakeets, are considered very delicate FACULTIES OF PARROTS. &9 food. In general it obtains, that whatever fruit or grain these birds chiefly feed upon, their flesh partakes of the flavour, and becomes good or ill tasted, according to the quality of their particular diet. At the season when the guava is ripe, they are fat and tender; if they feed upon the seed of the acajou, their flesh contracts an agreeable flavour of garlic; if their repast is the seed of spicy trees, their flesh then tastes of cloves and cinnamon; while, on the contrary, it is insupportably bitter if the berries they feed on are of that quality. The seed of the cotton tree intoxicates them in the same manner as wine does man; and even wine itself is drank by Parrots, as Aristotle assures us, by which they are rendered more talkative and amusing. But of all food, they are fondest of the carthamus, or bastard saffron; which, though strongly purgative to man, agrees perfectly with their constitution, and fattens them in a very short time. Of the Parrakeet kind in Brazil, Labet assures us, that they are the most beautiful in their plumage, and the most talkative birds in nature. They are very tame, and appear fond of mankind ; they seem pleased with holding parley with him; they never have done ; but while he continues to talk, answer him, and appear resolved to have the last word: but they are possessed of another quality, which is sufficient to put an end to this association ; their flesh is the most delicate imaginable, and highly esteemed by those who are fonder of indulging H 2 Bis e: See he eae 90 FACULTIES OF PARROTS, their appetites than their ears. The fowler walks into the woods, where they keep in abundance, but as they are green, and exactly the colour of the leaves among which they sit, he only hears their prattle, without being able to see a single bird; he looks round him, sensible that his game is within | gun-shot in abundance, but is mortified to the last — degree that it is impossible to see them. Unfortu- nately for these little animals, they are restless, and ever on the wing, so that, in flying from one tree to another, he has but too frequent opportunities: of ' destroying them ; for, as soon as they have stripped the tree on which they sat of all its berries, some | one of them flies off to another ; and if that be found fit for the purpose, the bird gives a loud call, when all the rest resort to it. That is the opportunity the fowler has long been waiting for; he fires among the flock, while they ‘are yet on the wing, and seldom fails of bringing down several of them. But it is singular enough to see them when they find their companions fallen. They set up a loud cry, as if they were chiding the destroyer, and do not cease till they see him preparing for another charge. But though there are many motives for destroying - these beautiful birds, they are still plentiful in various countries ; and in some places on the coast of Guinea they are considered by the Negroes as" their greatest tormentors. The flocks of Parrots persecute them with their unceasing screaming, and _ devour whatever fruits they attempt to produce by | art in their little gardens. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION PARROTS. Ir would appear that the early Greeks were “acquainted with only one species of Parrot, which was first imported from the East by one of the captains of Alexander’s fleet. This was the species tnown at the present day by the name of the Alexandrine Parrakeet, (Psittacus Alexandri,) so “named by modern ornithologists, in honour of the conqueror of the world, through whose means it was - first discovered. Aristotle, the father of natural seience, speaks of it as a rare bird, which he had merely heard of by report. On this subject, Gold- smith remarks, “ So generally are these birds known at present, and so great is their variety, that nothing seems more extraordinary than that there was but one ‘sort of them known among the ancients, and that at -a time when they pretended to be masters of the world. If nothing else could serve to shew the vanity of a Roman’s boast, the Parrot tribe might an instance, of which there are hundreds now 92 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION known, —not one of which naturally breeds in the countries that acknowledged the Roman power.” lian informs us, that Parrots became the) favourites of princes, and other distinguished men. They were held by them, and also by the mass o the people, in religious veneration. Such, indeed,, was the passion for these birds, that they were bought at prices as high as that paid for a slave, and were kept in cages formed of silver and ivory. This: attachment was considered by the virtuous Cato as puerile in the extreme, and ill befitting an age when men’s actions were only valued in proportion as they’ gave proofs of their patriotism and personal prowess 5 and he consequently heaped reproaches of contempt upon his countrymen for indulging in such an unmanly amusement as that of playing with Parrots. Still, however, Parrots continued to be long afterwards held in high estimation by the Romans, and they were sold at most exorbitant prices, both as subjects of amusement, and as delicacies for the table. Heliogabalus, notorious for his inordinate luxury, ostentation, and profligacy, had great num- bers of Parrots served up at his entertainments. ; The Portuguese, who first doubled the Cape of Good Hope, found on the coast of Africa, and in the islands of the Indian Ocean, various tribes of | Parrots, totally unknown in Europe, and these were in such vast numbers, that it was with difficulty | they could be prevented from devouring the rice and maize. ‘There is a district of country north of the Cape, which took its name from the multitude OF PARROTS. 93 f of Parrots seen in its woods. These, however, were far inferior to the numbers and variety that presented themselves to the first adventurers in the New World. Some of the islands there were ‘called the Parrot Isles, from the great flocks of these birds which were found upon them. They ‘constituted the first article of commerce between the inhabitants of the Old and New Continents. In these regions every forest swarmed with them ; and the Rook is not better known in Europe, than was the Parrot in the East and West Indies, as well as ‘in the different territories of South America. In all the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, they are found in great variety and abundance, and they add to the splendour of those woods, which Nature | has dressed in eternal green. _. Parrots may be separated into two great divisions, | those of the Old and those of the New World; the former into Cockatoos, Parrots, Lories, and Parra- _keets ; the latter into Aras, or Maccaws, Amazons, Criks, and Popinjays. The Lories inhabit the Moluccas, New Guinea, and other Asiatic islands. They do not occur in America. Owing to their ‘powerless flight, their migrations are very confined, | and the birds of this tribe inhabiting one island of | an archipelago are often of a different species from | those of a neighbouring one. There is a short-tailed | Parrakeet in South America called the Touis, which is the smallest of all the tribe. They are not larger | than a House Sparrow, and are generally incapable | of acquiring speech. a 94 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION The geographical distribution of Parrots, is probably more extensive than is usually supposec The Carolina Parrot, plate first of this work, has: been ascertained by Latham to inhabit Guinea, and to migrate as far north as Carolina and Virginia inj autumn. Bertram observes, that it is never known to reach so far north as Pennsylvania, abounding in all those fruits in which it delights. This is) singular, as it is a bird of very rapid flight, and could easily perform the journey in ten or twelve hours from North Carolina. Buffon confines the geographical range to twenty-five degrees on each side of the equator; but the fallacy of this§ opinion is clearly demonstrated by the observations) of travellers of undoubted authority. We are informed, that two sorts were seen about Trinity Harbour, in the South Seas, latitude forty-one degrees seven minutes. Dr Foster met with two kinds as low as Port Famine, in the Straits of: Magellan, latitude ‘fifty-three degrees forty-four minutes south, where their food must have been} buds and berries, the forests being frequently bounded§ by mountains covered with eternal snow. The Calita Parrakeet, according to the account of Drj Gillies, is very abundant in the neighbourhood off the post-houses of Las Calitas, so named in conse-§ quence of these birds being so plentiful there. This place is in the province of Mendoza, and is situatedy} about ninety miles to the eastward of the town of that] name, which seems to be the western boundary of their geographical range, and they are found as farll OF PARROTS. 95 east as the Rio Quarto, in the province of Cordova, which is somewhat about three hundred and fifty miles to the eastward of Las Calitas. The altitude of this tract of country ranges from two to three hundred feet above the level of the sea. The Rose- ringed Parrakeet has a most extensive range, being found over almost all India; it is also widely spread throughout Africa, and is especially found on the coasts of Senegal; and in all these places, differing, so widely in temperature and other physical pro- perties, the bird is subject to hardly any perceptible change in the colour or qualities of its plumage. Nearly three hundred species of this splendid genus of birds have been described by naturalists. It is said, that each species confines itself within its own particular district of the forest, without encroaching on the territory of any other species. +. at Ox Stk 56, | c-= CLL — 10 i \ A(\~ / ‘ ahs +. ay, SUP ee StS ae Rares = aa _— yA K\\) q % ie. f Wakes vag WG CZ) oy, ~~ AL MU Eze Ly 9 ig be 2h LL. } s>. ] - CAROLINA PARROTS. THE CAROLINA PARROT. PSITTACUS CAROLINENSIS. — WILSON. PLATE l. ALTHOUGH the plumage of this bird is not so much diversified in colour as many others of the extensive group to which it belongs, it is nevertheless one of the most beautiful and elegant of Parrots. The green suit with which it is invested, is subject to an ever varying play of colour; and the different tints which are diffused over its feathers, form the most agreeable and harmonious combinations. Our description of this species is taken from the beautiful and interesting account of Wilson, inter- Jaced with additional information from the graphic pen of Audubon. “The Carolina, or Illinois Parrot,” says Wilson, “ for it has been described under both these appellations, is thirteen inches long, and twenty-one in extent ; forehead and cheeks, orange red ; beyond this, for I 98 THE CAROLINA PARROT. ' an inch and a half, down and round the neck, a rich — and pure yellow; shoulder and bend of the wing, also edged with rich orange red. The general colour of the rest of the plumage is a bright yellowish silky green, with light blue reflections, lightest and most diluted with yellow below; greater wing coverts and roots. of the primaries, yellow, slightly tinged with green; interior webs of the primaries, deep dusky purple, almost black, exterior ones, bluish green ; tail, long, cuneiform, consisting of twelve feathers, the exterior one only half the length, the others increasing to the middle ones, which are streaked along the middle with light blue ; shafts of all the larger feathers, and of most part of the green plumage, black; knees and vent, orange yellow; feet, a pale whitish flesh colour; claws, black; bill, white, or slightly tinged with pale cream ; iris of the eye, hazel; round the eye is a | small space without feathers, covered with a whitish skin; nostrils placed in an elevated membrane at the base of the bill, and covered with feathers; chin, wholly bare of feathers, but concealed by those descending on each side; from each side of the palate hangs a lobe or skin of a blackish colour ; tongue, thick and fleshy; inside of the upper mandible near the point, grooved exactly like a file, that it may hold with more security.” According to Audubon the plumage is compact and imbricated on the back, blended on the head, neck, and under parts; the wings are long, the second and third quills longest ; the body is elon-— THE CAROLINA PARROT. 99 gated; the feet short and robust; the tarsus scaly all round ; the bill, along the ridge, measures one and one-twelfth of an inch; the gap, measured from the tip of the lower mandible, one half inch ; the tarsus five-sixths, the middle toe one and one quarter of an inch. « The female differs very little.in her colours and markings from the male. After examining numerous specimens, the following appear to be the principal differences. The yellow on the neck of the female does not descend quite so far; the interior vanes of the primaries are brownish, instead of black, and the orange red on the bend and edges of the wing is considerably narrower ; in other respects, the colours and markings are nearly the same. « The young birds of the preceding year, of both sexes, are generally destitute of the yellow on the head and neck, until about the beginning or middle of March, having those parts wholly green, except the front and cheeks, which are orange red in them as in the full grown birds. Towards the middle of March the yellow begins to appear, in detached feathers, interspersed among the green, varying in different individuals. In some which I killed about the last of that month, only a few green feathers remained among the yellow; and these were fast assuming the yellow tint: for the colour changes without change of plumage. A number of these birds, in all their grades of progressive change from green to yellow, have been deposited in Mr Peale’s museun). 100 THE CAROLINA PARROT. «¢ What is called by Europeans the Illinois Parrots if (Psittacus pertinaz,) is evidently the young bird in ‘4 its imperfect colours. Whether the present species be found as far south as Brazil, as these writers — pretend, Iam unable to say; but, from the great extent of country in which I have myself killed and examined these birds, I am satisfied that the present species, now described, is the only one inhabiting the United States. “‘ Of one hundred and sixty-eight kinds of Parrots, enumerated by European writers as inhabiting the various regions 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 Missis- sippi and Ohio, and their tributary waters, even © beyond the Illinois river, to the neighbourhood of — Lake Michigan, in lat. 42 deg. north; and, con- — trary to the generally received opinion, is chiefly 5 resident in all these places. Eastward, however, of — ‘ THE CAROLINA PARROT. 101 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 the valleys of the Juniata; and, according to some, even twenty-five miles to the north-west of Albany, in the state of New York. But such accidental visits furnish no certain criteria by which to judge of their usual extent of range; those aérial voyagers, as well as others who navigate the deep, being subject to be cast away, by the violence of the elements, on distant shores and unknown countries. “ From these circumstances of the northern residence of this species, we might be justified in concluding it to be a very hardy bird, more capable of sustaining cold than nine-tenths of its tribe; and so I believe it is; having myself seen them, in the month of February, along the banks of the Ohio, in a snow storm, flying about like Pigeons, and in full cry- MG The preference, however, which this bird gives to the western countries, lying in the same parallel of latitude with those eastward of the Alleghany mountains, which it rarely or never visits, is worthy of remark; and has been adduced, by different writers, as a proof of the superior mildness of climate in the former to that of the latter. But there are other reasons for this partiality equally powerful, though hitherto overlooked, namely, cer- tain peculiar features of country to which these birds are particularly and strongly attached: these are, low rich alluvial bottoms, along the borders of 12 102 THE CAROLINA PARROT. creeks, covered with a gigantic growth of sycamore © trees, or button-wood; deep, and almost impene- trable swamps, where the vast and towering cypress lift their still more majestic heads; and those singular salines, or, as they are usually called, licks, so generally interspersed over that country, and which are regularly and eagerly visited by the — Parrakeets. A still greater inducement is the supe- rior abundance of their favourite fruits. That food which the Parrakeet prefers to all others, is. the seeds of the cockle bur, a plant rarely found in the lower parts of Pennsylvania or New York; but which, unfortunately, grows in too great abundance along the shores of the Ohio and Mississippi, so much so, as to render the wool of those sheep that pasture where it most abounds, scarcely werth the cleaning, covering them with one solid mass of burs, wrought up and imbedded into the fleece, to the great annoyance of this Be eogeg animal.” | Audubon says these are afso very troublesome to the manes and tails of horses, and that they also stick so thickly to the clothes, as to prevent a person ' from walking with any kind of ease. He says the Parrakeet alights upon the bur, and plucks it from _ the stem with its bill, takes it from the latter with one foot, in which it turns it over until the joint is properly placed to meet the attacks of the bill, ‘when it bursts it open, takes out the fruit, and allows the shell to drop. In this manner, a flock of these birds, having discovered a field ever so well filled with these plants, will eat or pluck off all their THE CAROLINA PARROT. 103 seeds, returning to the place day after day, until hardly any are left. The plant might thus be extir- pated; but it so happens that it is reproduced from the ground, being perennial, and our farmers have too much to do in securing their crops, to attend to the pulling up of the cockle burs by the roots, the only effectual way of getting rid of them. Parra- keets are fond of sand in a surprising degree, and, on that account, are frequently seen to alight in flocks along the gravelly banks about the creeks and rivers, or in the ravines of old fields in the plantations, where they scratch with bill and claws, flutter and roll themselves in the sand, and pick up and swallow a certain quantity of it. For the same purpose they also enter the holes dug by our King- fisher. ‘They are fond of saline earth, for which they visit the different licks interspersed in our woods. “ The seeds of the cypress tree and hackberry, as well as beech nuts, are also great favourites with these birds; the two former of which are not com- monly found.in Pennsylvania, and the latter by no means so general or so productive. Here, then, are several powerful reasons, more dependent on soil than climate, for the preference given by these birds _to the luxuriant regions of the west. Pennsylvania, indeed, and also Maryland, abound with excellent apple orchards, on the ripe fruit of which the Parra- keets occasionally feed. But I have my doubts whether their depredations in the orchard be not as much the result of wanton play and mischief, as 104 THE CAROLINA PARROT. regard for the seeds of the fruit, which they are supposed to be in pursuit of. I have known a flock of these birds alight on an apple tree, and have myself seen them twist off the fruit, one by — one, strewing it in every direction around the tree, — without observing that any of the depredators descended to pick them up.” Audubon describes the depredations of these birds, in orchards and gardens, as being very great. He says, “ They alight in great numbers, and, as — through mere mischief, pluck off the fruits, open them to the core, and, disappointed at the sight of © the seeds, which are yet soft, and of a milky con- — sistence, drop the apple or pear, and pluck another, passing from branch to branch, until the trees which were before so promising, are left completely stripped. They visit the mulberries, pecaw-nuts, grapes, and even the seeds of the dog-wood, before they are ripe, and on all commit similar depreda~ tions. The stacks of grain put up in the field, are resorted to by these birds, which frequently cover them so entirely, that they present to the eye the same effect as if a brilliantly coloured carpet had been thrown over them. ‘They cling around the : whole stack, pull out the straws, and destroy twice | as much of the grain as would sufficiently satisfy their hunger. The maize alone never attracts their — notice. During these depredations, the husband- men approach them very easily, and destroy great — numbers. All the survivors rise, shriek, fly round — about for a few minutes, and again alight on the THE CAROLINA PARROT. 105 very place of most imminent danger. The gun is kept at work; eight or ten, or even twenty, are killed at every discharge. The living birds, as if conscious of the death of their comparfions, sweep over their bodies, screaming as loud as ever, but still return to the stack to be shot at, until so few remain alive that the farmer does not consider it worth his while to spend more ammunition. I have seen several hundreds killed in this way in the course of a few hours.” “ To a Parrakeet,” continues Wilson, “ which I wounded and kept for some considerable time, I very often offered apples, which it uniformly rejected ; but burs, or beech nuts, never. To another very beau- tiful one, which I brought from New Orleans, and which is now sitting in the room beside me, I have frequently offered this fruit, and also the seeds separately, which I never knew it to taste. Their local attachments, also, prove that food, more than climate, determines their choice of country. For even in the states of Ohio, Kentucky, and the Mississippi territory, unless in the neighbourhood of such places as have been described, it is rare to seethem. The inhabitants of Lexington, as many of them assured me, scarcely ever observe them in that quarter. In passing from that place to Nashville, a distance of two hundred miles, I neither heard nor saw any, but at a place called Madison’s lick. In passing on, I next met with them on the banks and rich flats of the Tennessee river: after this, I saw no more till I reached Bayo St Pierre, a distance of 106 THE CAROLINA PARROT. several hundred miles: from all which circum- stances, I think we cannot, from the residence of these birds, establish with propriety any correct standard by which to judge of the comparative temperatures of different climates. “In descending the river Ohio, by myself, in the month of February, I met with the first flock of Parrakeets, at the mouth of the Little Sioto. I had been informed, by an old and respectable inhabitant — of Marietta, that they were sometimes, though © rarely, seen there. I observed flocks of them, after- wards, at the mouth of the Great and Little Miami, and in the neighbourhood of numerous creeks that. discharge themselves into the Ohio. At Big Bone lick, thirty miles above the mouth of Kentucky river, I saw them in great numbers. They came screaming through the woods in the morning, about an hour after sunrise, to drink the salt water, of which they, as well as the Pigeons, are remarkably fond. When they alighted on the ground, it appeared at a distance as if covered with a carpet of the richest green, orange, and yellow: they afterwards settled, in one body, on a neighbouring . tree, which stood detached from any other, covering almost every twig of it, and the sun, shining strongly on their gay and glossy plumage, produced a very beautiful and splendid appearance. Here I had an opportunity of observing some very parti- cular traits of their character: having shot down a_ number, some of which were only wounded, the whole flock swept repeatedly around their prostrate THE CAROLINA PARROT. 107 companions, and again settled on a low tree, within twenty yards of the spot where I stood. At each successive discharge, though showers of them fell, yet the affection of the survivors seemed rather to increase ; for, after a few circuits around the place, they again alighted near me, looking down on their slaughtered companions with such manifest symp- toms of sympathy and concern, as entirely disarmed me. I could not but take notice of the remarkable contrast between their elegant manner of flight, and their lame 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 serpen- tine meanders, as if for pleasure.” Audubon remarks, “that their flight is accompa- nied by inclinations of the body, which enable the observer to see alternately their upper and under parts. They deviate from a direct course only when impediments occur, such as the trunks of trees or houses, in which case they glance aside in a very graceful manner, merely as much as may be necessary. On reaching a spot which affords a supply of food, instead of alighting at once, as many other birds do, the Parrakeets take a good survey of the neighbourhood, passing over it in circles of t extent, first above the trees, and then gradually lowering until they almost touch the ground, when 108 THE CAROLINA PARROT. suddenly reascending, they all settle on the tree that bears the fruit of which they are in quest, or on one close to the field in which they expect to regale themselves.” Wilson says, “ 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. Theyare 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 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 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.” Audubon is of opinion, “that their flesh is tole- rable food when they are young, on which account many of them are shot. The skin of their body is usually much covered with the mealy substance _ detached from the roots of the feathers. The head THE CAROLINA PARROT. 109 especially is infested by numerous minute insects, all of which shift from the skin to the surface of the plumage, immediately after the bird’s death.” _ “ A very general opinion prevails, that the brains and intestines of the Carolina Parrakeet 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 thana 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 by the first opportunity, and write me the result; but I have never yet heard from him. A respectable lady near the town of Natchez, and on whose word I can rely, assured me, that she herself had made the experiment, and that, whatever might be the cause, the cat had actually died either on that or the succeeding day. A French planter near Bayo Fourche pretended to account to me for this effect, by positively asserting, that the seeds of the cockle burs, on which the Parrakeets so eagerly feed, were deleterious to cats; and thus their death was produced by eating the intestines of the bird. These matters might easily have been ascertained on the spot, which, however, a combination of trifling circumstances prevented me from doing. I several times carried a dose of the first description in my pocket till it became insufferable, without meeting with a suitable patient, on whom, like other *- K 110 THE CAROLINA PARROT. professional gentlemen, I might conveniently make a fair experiment. . «Since the foregoing was written, I have had am opportunity, by the death of a tame Carolina Parra- keet, to ascertain the fact of the poisonous effects of their head and intestines on cats. Having shut up a cat and her two kittens, (the latter only a few days old,) in a room with the head, neck, and whole intestines of the Parrakeet, I found, on the next morning, the whole eaten except a small part of the bill. The cat exhibited no symptom of sickness 5 and, at this moment, three days after the experi- ment has been made, she and her kittens are in their usual health. Still, however, the effect might have been different, had the daily food of the bird been eockle burs, instead of Indian corn.” We cannot help remarking, that this was rather a wanton and unfeeling experiment to try on so use- ful an animal as the cat. 1a ‘“ who are accustomed to hear their utterance, the arra of the Blue and Yellow Maccaw, from its less distinct articulation, can at once be distinguished. . These birds are quite at their ease in a domesti-. cated condition, and have frequently bred in France ; but we are not aware of their having propagated in Great Britain. ; aft me j et 4 q 7 Pal 3 € ee % : f iz ; Se OP) teed ed 4 2 ‘ ; ¥, a a qa ed 29 Pal: T4 ; ’ o } . e a= ia oe Ve ‘of x ‘¥> ws . ot mi bo = ais a » * 5 th : ; 4 : PR Sey Oe . ae be . ‘ » a, “7% he eT AG 7 seinhat Ate s 9 gta tabe, Bas > anhy oF, & pet : eo : to ’ : &. freer. shore een Phat ARE ea et oa | is Tyiltbtie Repro St allel aa tek hgh poy ae age bat Se z me v ¥ Fay, . rs at ‘<< S ali he “ ee % 7 S. > abit ; te RF mf da Bess ‘ Pode £254" CED “= 1 Oo — tion haat > we 7 me hk 7 . en > » 4 * 4 > , ¢ ' Py “» * : * i3 ~ o h . a nat . ‘ »~_ he » ? a . ‘ =“ ‘ ‘ , 3 _ ‘> ee —_ « - .- . ~s « 4. e - * t * + « ¥ - J : . t a he y ? . voy De Ss Ps - > : > es ~ o. » 3 es ; i = , . Sl : 1 a! 7 7 . f i Be ' i. 4 s < ps : ah? Le ra: Se : ; . ba] ra eter “ti. pm, fas i 4 ered os sie as @ <> — ie are bd - 4 a « . ay r * ~ aye ‘+= ’ y Ta are + Paes A 4 : * ers ’ La THE BLUE AND YELLOW MACCAW. 123 In common with its tribe, this species, in its native woods, lives chiefly upon fruits and seeds ; and they invariably prefer such as are provided with a hard and shelly covering : these they crack with much dexterity, carefully rejecting the outer coat, and swallowing only the internal nut. The colours of this bird are remarkably distinct. . The whole upper parts, from the base of the upper mandible to the extremity of the tail, including the sides of the head and the upper surface of the wings, are of a bright cobalt blue, with a slight tinge of green, which is more decided on the fore part of the head ; the under parts, from the gula, or throat down- wards, are of a deep chrome yellow, inclining to orange ; the throat is of a dusky black; the naked cheeks are of a pale rosiate hue, and are marked by three or more transverse lines of minute blackish feathers. The colours in the female are more vivid than in her mate, and the tail is also a little longer in proportion to the size of her body, which is a trifle less than that of the male. THE ROSE-CRESTED COCKATOO. PSITTACUS MOLUCCENSIS. — CUVIER. PLATE 5. Tuts lively bird is not remarkable for its intelli- gence, but is one of the most noisy of its tribe, and is particularly fond of assuming a variety of antic gestures. The Rose-crested Cockatoo belongs to the genus Plyctolophus of Vieillot, the species of which | naturally arrange themselves in two sub-divisions : in the first the crest assumes a rounded form, and falls backwards over the neck, when the bird is quiescent ; while in the second sub-division it is lengthened into a point, which is folded together, © and is curved upwards. To the former of these this species belongs. It is a native of Sumatra and the Moluccas. The length of this bird varies from sixteen to eighteen inches ; its whole plumage is white, with an occasional tinge of pale rose colour. The crest is | formed of feathers of a bright orange red under- neath ; the upper side, with the two middle feathers, © al oe eS é 7 om . ee 4 : ai 4 oS | ae ‘ a ‘ A Joe ’ ‘ hore OD. oak Toe. Ys . e- ai ya ee ’ t tik, w > ee Zz fee yt aa . hs aes uch "i siiggl i? tet ree eats i ns SR he a: Beet shee! Se 2 da . Tee. al a ° ( gunning x4 Ar Lethe . Tbe Me cde Coeb atten! | ee: “semen cs Aig cr ger WE they * BG ee *: Le org wr igh e Firaie idee lai pinta ae ie 7 , ee aie Ry , beets Sant i nce: ERE a” MRE ees apa cae si | CAO we ea ‘ie its Pa OF bros . oie gt 4 te | 1 nets ntrlimme ge fii De a * er re Att MS he ad “viet op: “gh hott CE Seana fe ase: bh: hae i 8s ‘ao | ie nee GX /e ——— “AOE } BS 6 Som i. —~ 1 ¢ oe * PA - al « sa De § & cP - _ “3 » 4 i “5 Am La » « y ee eG ~ be ‘> m4 oer Pet We ma $ 2 ee ne DEEP-BLUE MACCAW. g Kida, Etc. 4 | \ oo oe Ne aul ws a ae SS. oS SRE ain — oh \\ YSISV/ L\ Sane NS BLUE-TIPPED LORY. LO. Kidd, Etc. n . 4 ‘ . 4 ; a “ % of ha ¥ gs a SP TLYL NEPRUwoORY % Pg. eer a a oe hg FNesere oe i ee. eS Ns Sa oe ria ae ps 2 ie ener re. yee en thin ost cleguint ogedign a es a Es Ree unieseritx befary: bis timee, 1t ia ah saa Risll dowiestic Pigign, voi x Faw bint ie 4 are inetent fied pas at y NpleOag ; a. pa e-uppet gamkqunior ati off Bhtage eo: a reat ep. cn aa tang erin samme = ippet with bhoc e thie: oo certs aha a ae fiwith blacks the.tail iv. we, y grac yand of « Sosa, Dien esi - EY Nee aee Pe a Reton by. Ce. pn es ores ' . eM ake ee ee de ¢ > » te age 4 - “ THE BLUE TIPPED LORY. PSITTACUS CHRULEATUS. — LEVAILLANT. PLATE 10. _ LevaiLuant considers this most elegant species as new and undescribed before his time. It is the ‘size of a small domestic Pigeon, and is a native of ‘the Molucca Islands. This bird is figured by — Levaillant in his ninety-third plate of Parrots. _ The whole of the upper and under parts of this ‘Parrot are of a deep, rich, and shining crimson ; the -scapulars are tipped with blue; the coverts and secondary quills with black; the tail is short, slightly graduated, and of a rich chocolate brown, hanging to a bluish tinge by the play of light; the Tegs and feet are black, there are usually two spots of deep blue ; the bill is of a cinnamon colour. - ‘ but also The as far a: beneath, smaller y is violet back, anc edged w abe “te ; : Es Mala ER apg a RES » “a Picks Prete 2 ee ee 3 a, Sele . a > ite be tae st | is KeetiPSpor onky ts try Roturalion v% why. Fipee he tal commrtatinthien | tx ‘leep cae sg ut chogd aecevert < nie ae veo Ahungine t eh Ve Vaated the Spade Tren ihe ney oe ~-. PARRAKEE? INA N TS 7 PENNANT’S PARRAKEBRT. 133 When the wings are open, the smaller feathers — that is, those nearest the body—are of a clear lilac; a few of the greater wing coverts are bright yellow on one side. The upper side of the rectrices of the tail is of a deep violet; each of the feathers being divided by a black shaft, the sides of which have a slight reflection of a bronzed colour; the three longest rectrices are of a violet red beneath ; the middle sized and small ones are of a velvet violet at their base, terminated by a.grayish white at the tips; the lower covering of the rectrices is of a fine black; among the larger ones, some have a reflection of blue at their base; others terminate in a clear blue, fringed with white; and as for the middle sized and smaller ones, they are ultramarine blue at their termination, fringed with white at the tips only. The feet are of a gray black ; as also the upper mandible of the bill, at its base; from the middle to the.point it is of a citron yellow, inclining to pink. The length of this Parrakeet is fifteen inches ; it inhabits New Holland. M : aie THE NONPAREIL PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS EXEMIUS. —LEVAILLANT, PLATE 12. THE name given to this Parrakeet, Vieillot remarks, was pointed out by Nature herself, who has endowed it with a rare assemblage of real beauties. It presents a union of the most remark- able colours and shades, which are distributed | among the birds of the family to which it belongs ; _ indeed, we may almost say, among birds in general. The Nonpareil Parrakeet is middle sized and finely shaped, having an elegant form, its beak small, and its tail the same length as the body. The crown of the head, occiput, cheeks, and throat, are of a bright scarlet, and the chin white; the breast is of the same red as the throat, but descending to the middle of the body, where it terminates in a point. This colour, though predo- minating, is mixed with yellow ; some of the red feathers are terminated by a little black point. The lower covering of the tail, near the tail coverts, is also of the same red. The under part of the body, from the breast to the lower part of the abdomen, AS Aaa ea ae ai S aes THE NONPAREIL PARRAKEET. . 135 is of a fine jonquil yellow, with a deep red spot in the middle, and from thence takes a greenish shade as it approaches the tail coverts, and the lower part of the sides on the hypochondria ; the tail coverts and crissum are green. The feathers behind the neck, those on the upper part of the back, the scapulars, and the two last feathers of the wing next the back, are of a velvet black, with a border of golden yellow, which skirts the contour, and detaches them in an agreeable manner from each other. The lesser wing coverts are of a rich violet ; those which are near the scapu- lars, and are hid by them, are black, with a yellow border ; the greater wing coverts in front are of a violet blue. The great primary feathers of the wings are of a bright blue on their outer margin, and of a glossy black within, as well as on the under side, and the secondaries are of a mixed green and blue on their exterior. The tail is imbricated; the first four external rectrices are of a delicate lilac, which always appear white towards the fronts and edges, and outwardly of a fine pale azure blue; the interme- diate tail feathers are of a gay green; the whole of them have black down, both interiorly and exte- riorly, in the part which is hidden by the red coverts above the tail. The lilac colour of the lateral tail feathers, is liable to different gradations, depending on the play of light, so as to appear almost white in one position, whilst in another it seems of the brightest azure blue. The legs are greenish, mixed j 136 THE NONPAREIL PARROT. with gray, and the claws gray. The beak is bluish- gray ; the ophthalmic region is red, and the ey hazel. Levaillant says, this species of Parrakeet inhabi the Australian regions. It is also said to be a nativ of some of the South Sea Islands. The tongue of this species is terminated in brush. It is probable that this formation of th tongue has some influence over the voice of th bird, whose ery resembles a piercing whistle, but without harshness. It is said not to be very sus= ceptible of education : one which was kept for three years at Malmaison, in France, had learned nothing during that period. The food of this species is berries and fruits, after having torn them to bits ; also almonds, grains, and peppins, which they despoil of their outer coating before swallowing them. While in a free condition, they abstain from all animal food; but in captivity become omnivorous. It has been remarked, that when the primary feathers of the wings have been clipped to prevent them flying, they seldom grow again in our climate $ and when they do, are exceedingly ill formed : those only are renewed which fall naturally in the moulting. It is considered that the best way of keeping these birds without clipping their wings, would be, after each moulting, to clip the interior down of the first five or six primary feathers, three quarters of their length from the base outwards. PHILIPPINE LORY. 2 THE PRILIPP be Perergcee MRE AY OT s.- aay, P : aR -” we? ; i its time r... a oe 4 i «deo » AW Pnearty iy raaleres ig gcuyte tee be; “<* ines impt sts Mad Se erimions whrthe ory om pete oe Born BOM, - lh ie THE PHILIPPINE LORY. PSITTACUS MELANOTUS.—SHAW. PLATE 13. Tuis pretty bird is a native of the Philippine Islands, and is remarkable for the gentleness of its manners in a state of captivity. It is somewhat smaller than a Turtle Dove, usually measuring about ten inches in length. The whole crown of the head, from the bill to the bottom of the nucha, is of a deep violet black; the collum is scarlet ; the back, as far as the interscapu- lum, the breast and abdomen, as far as the point of the crissum, are of a deep Antwerp blue; from the interscapulum to nearly the point of the tail, a fine scarlet colour, and the wings and tip of the tail are green; the second last of the secondary wing feathers is of an orange yellow, and the external of the majores is scarlet ; the legs and feet are black; the bill crimson; and the cere, and circle round the eye, orange yellow. ‘This species is the Black- capped Lory of Edwards, and is represented by him in plate 170. M 2 THE ROSE-RINGED PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS TORQUATUS. — BRISSON: PLATE 14. Tus species occupies a wide geographical range, and is plentifully dispersed over India, and as far eastward as Manilla; and is said also to be widely | spread throughout a great extent of Africa, stretch- ing to the coasts of Senegal. It is from the last named locality that this bird is imported into Europe, and from the great numbers which reach this country, it must be very plentiful in that territory. The Rose-ringed Parrakeet is of the most vivid green, tinged with yellow; the base of the wings is provided with a purplish red patch; it has a collar round its neck of a vivid rose colour. The female of this species resembles the young bird, being destitute of the rose ring, which does not make its appearance until the bird is in its third year. The full grown bird is from eighteen to twenty inches. This is the bird which was known in early times in Britain by the name of Popinjay. In the reign 4 ; me 1 ae, THE ROSE-RINGED PARRAKEET. 139 of King Henry V. a singular poem was written by Skelton, under the title of Speak Parrot, in which the essential characters of this species were well described. In a state of domestication it is extremely affec- tionate, and easily acquires a number of words, or even sentences, which it utters with much distinct- ness. Mr Bennet remarks, “ To judge from the brief descriptions of the writers of antiquity, it would appear that the present species was then, as now, more frequently brought into Europe than any other of its group. The characters given by Pliny, Solinus, and Apuleius, among the naturalists, and the equally expressive phrases of Oppian and Ovid among the poets, make no allusion to any of those marks by which the Alexandrine Parrakeet is obvi- ously distinguished: it is, therefore, probable that the Rose-ringed species was that with which they were most familiar, although the Alexandrine, and one or two others, must have been occasionally introduced.” Ps THE HYACINTHINE MACCAW. PSITTACUS HYACINTHINUS. — LATHAM. PLATE 15. TuE whole plumage of this species is of a fine hyacinthine blue, lighter on the head and neck, changing to sea green on the upper parts, and of the colour of polished steel, which is the case also with the wings and tail; the neck, the orbits, and gula, are naked, and of a deep yellow colour; the edge of the eyelid, and the iris, have the shade of rosemary flowers; the bill and feet are of a deep black; the membrane of the bill is of a beautiful yellow, and two lines wide at the base of the upper mandible ; it diminishes with the length to the angle of the mouth, from whence there extends a second straight membrane, which embraces the inferior mandible, and advances towards the eye; the cheeks are in a great measure covered with feathers, which distin- guishes this Ara from its congeners. The whole length of the bird is twenty-six inches. The female is a little less than the male, and the young are of a more dull blue colour. 6¥ ea Y +¢ sae vane $88 "ale di } Foe thy ~~ > NE HYACINTH! Kiddy ee THE HYACINTHINE MACCAW. 14] M. D’Azzara has met many pairs of this species, between the twenty-seventh and twenty-ninth degrees of south latitude, and never more to the north. He has, notwithstanding, been assured, that it has been found even as far as _ thirty- three and a half degrees. It builds not only in the holes of trees, but also, even more frequently, in those which it digs in the perpendicular banks of the rivers Parana and Urugay. It has nearly the same habits and cry as its congeners; but it may be taught many things. An individual which Vieillot saw alive at Paris, imitated perfectly the human voice, the cry of Parrakeets, and the various noises which it heard. It was very merry, docile, and affectionate. re ‘ [ > ‘ a . ¥ Py ey 7 * > - THE RED AND YELLOW MACCAW. PSITTACUS ABACANGA.— LEVAILLANT. PLATE 16. Tuis species is a native of Cayenne and Su- rinam, where it is said to be very abundant, and from whence great numbers are annually er SercTH ER into Europe. Although inferior in size to the Red and Blue Maccaw, in beauty at least it is equal to that species. Its general size is about two feet and a half, from the crown of the head to the tip of the tail. -The red of its plumage is less intense than that of the red and blue species, and the blue of its primary wing feathers is of a more vivid colour. In place of the greenish band which separates the two principal colours from each other, the extremities of each of the feathers have a greenish tinge on the lower part of the neck and upper wing coverts, ~ while the larger wing coverts are of a light yellow, tipped with bright green. The naked part of the cheeks is white, and quite bare, being totally destitute sabes +. TS frosts Hokies ne tiers 2 be rerg MACCAW, Ow Y@Li AND RED Ld THE RED AND YELLOW MACCAW. 143 of the minute lines of feathers which are an unvary- ing character of the Red and Blue Maccaw ; and the membrane does not extend over the base of the upper mandible. This part «x the bill is of a dull yellowish white throughout, having a small spot of black near its base. ‘The under mandible, the scales of the legs, and claws, are of a deep black, the white skin appearing at intervals through the scales. Some naturalists have supposed this as merely a variety of the Red and Blue Maccaw. THE TURKOSINE PARRAKEET, PSITTACUS PULCHELLUS.— LEVAILLANT. PLATE 17. Tue Turkosine Parrakeet may be numbered among the smallest of its tribe, measuring only six! inches and a half from the crown of the head to the extremity of the tail, which is about a thire of the whole. y | The front of the head is of a rich cobalt blue; from hence to the crown of the head, also the neck, back, upper wing coverts, and the two intermediate tail feathers, are of a rich green; the throat, breast, abdomen, and crissum, are of a deep golden yellow ; the lesser wing coverts are a pale verditer blue ; the middle, and greater coverts, and pri- maries, cobalt blue, tipped with black; and eac i wing has a bright scarlet spot, on the middle wing, coverts, next the interscapulum. . The lateral tail feathers are of a bright gamboge yellow, the three next the central feathers on each side having a longitudinal black streak, occupying about two- thirds of the central region of the feathers. The bill, legs, and feet, are black. This species inhabit New Holland. | Pee _ ptre. a ie etek” i “Ry , my Gs ah: ithe (thee TURKOSINE PARRAK «1. 1dda,Etc. THE RED-NAPED PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS NUCHALIS. — LATHAM. PLATE 18. LEVAILLANT considers this species as entirely ew, and that it was a native of South America. {Shaw is, however, of opinion, that its original jcountry was New Holland. The front of the head, nuchal crescent, breast, and jabdomen, is of a vivid scarlet ; the bill is of a bright red, inclining to crimson; the whole of the other parts of the plumage are of arich and glossy green, changing in some lights to bluish green, with reflec- tions of pink; the irides are scarlet, and the feet greenish brown. The Red-naped Parrakeet is about the size of a small domestic Pigeon. This is the Le Parraquet Langlois of eae mt: ; No. 136. iiw_> THE GOLDEN GREEN PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS SWAINSONII. — BROWN. PLATE 19. THE plumage above is entirely green, beneath paler, and inclining more to yellow, and of a fine © golden tinge ; just under the lower mandible is a _ dark umber coloured spot, and a very narrow line © of the same in front, just above the nostrils; the — quills dark green, the greater ones on their outside base are blue; the spurious wings are of a rich and — clear orange. The inner wing coverts are green ; the © inside of the quills is greenish blue, except on each — side of the shafts, where there is a line of black ;_ the tail is short and cuneated, hardly projecting an — inch beyond the wings, both above and below — green, the interior margin dirty yellow ; the bill and legs are of a flesh colour. Total length, six _ inches. This bird was first figured and described by that excellent ornithologist, William Swainson, Esq. in~ his Zoological Illustrations, under the specific appel-_ lation of Vaillantii, but we have changed it to a ad * i +a ri i 7 . “it? 3 “ . 4 fe] aren ‘ ® @ hs > sts Ra i i. : P : > As ‘ , 7 4}i 4 os ef rs * ‘ ) CK) 7 Tie A nes hy iw ’ ieMOp, Pat, ’ lanai? 4 ae erent] tc; 5 eS “ie . 2 a * - aw fs! ale es +, sta cn ite a4 tas ee 7 ‘ rs m4 2? ae Shae g ve. _* “ae 2 f 25 => t 2 FANS | _NQso-= RAINE ES IT: Ay, SS ~~ KAS, 1 ss ND dade a, day IG ad 77) LY. Kidd, Ecc . ae (uae ER tet Re 4,'tm =! te aA Mj sy + ass f ' £, a THE GOLDEN GREEN PARRAKEET. 147 Swainsonii, in honour of that distinguished natu- ralist himself, as a species of Parrakeet has been already dedicated to Levaillant, and is figured by us in Plate 25. Mr Swainson informs us, that “ this bird was the only specimen of its kind in a large collection made by C. Edmonston, Esq. in Demerara. Another I have since seen in the possession of A. MacLeay, Esq. ; it comes nearest the Orange-winged Parrakeet of Latham, but his description will not admit of them being referred to the same species. THE CAPE PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS CAPENSIS. — SHAWe PLATE 20. Tuis bird is one of the smallest of the Parrot tribe, measuring only about four inches and a hal from the crown of the head to the tip of the tail. It is an inhabitant of the lower parts of Africa, near the Cape of Good Hope. The tail is short, and the bill rather small in proportion to the size of the bird; the whole of the plumage is of a rich yellowish green, changing to yellow in various shades of light ; the quills of the wings are of a verdigris green, changing into blue ; and the under wing coverts are of an extremely deep and beautiful ultramarine blue, with a patch of the same colour extending down a considerable — way on the hypochondria; the bill is pale brown, and the feet of a raw umber colour. Mas se) - nah ole acd : ewe Tec : thé. Cape of, ati ee ye zr Sete c aera of Oe a Soe | r " ‘ eer aS ganle — font Key, = eo: 7 ged ee y wae ese eS PARRAKEET. SCALY SREASTED Kidd, Etc. . ho oe pe. ~~ ‘pe é ioe Ae + Be é a ok Nea : Wes, en." “To ; 3 verdigris eves thd thehit, of a deep lrwwikt wes pS fags the interseapubnedy ks até abl of 9 riche weap a Bs ary if iced aud teat hog, tthe a a ‘WA Sepik saa a4 a? A api nly repbs e es ie a nip % ; : is 5 : THE SCALY-BREASTED PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS SQUAMOSUS. — SHAW. PLATE 21. Tue front of the forehead is verdigris green ; the crown, cheeks, and throat, of a deep brown; the nucha, auchenium, as far as the interscapulum region, the rectrices, and remiges, are all of a rich yellow green, as also the intermediate tail feathers, the hypochondria, the tibial and tarsal feathers, the crissum, and under tail coverts; the interscapulum, lateral tail feathers, and epigastrum, are of a scarlet lake colour ; the gula is white, the feathers of which are centered with black, and edged with pink, giving them a scaly appearance; the jugulum is of a rich gamboge yellow, and changing into green as it descends ; the greater wing coverts and quills are of a rich cobalt blue; the bill and feet are of a dull black ; the flexure of the wing is rich crimson. This elegant species is a native of Surinam, and was first brought from that country to Britain by Baron Sack, and communicated to Dr Shaw. N 2 “YS PA THE TABUAN PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS TABUENSIS. —LATHAM. PLATE 22. THE head, neck, breast, abdomen, crissum, and under tail coverts, are of a bright purplish red; the feathers on the abdomen and flanks merely tipped with this colour, which produces a banded appear- ance of blackish green ; the whole of the upper parts, with the exception of the quills and outer tail feathers, are bright emerald green, varying in shade and intensity according to the light; the feathers of the tergum are tipped with the same colour as the head and neck; the wings are broad and powerful; the under sides and under webs of the quills are black ; the outer webs greatly emarginated, and of a high- toned purplish azure blue, changing to pale ultra- marine blue at the edges; the spurious wings on the upper side are of a deep azure blue. The tail is broad and expansive, containing twelve feathers ; the two central ones are of a dull emerald green ; all the others are of a rich azure blue, tinged at the RE te Re Aegee: ghecn, ee . ASWERE g Pico Aaa da thie ingghits <¢ at oer whe rag: Toy #27 oy psf te , be ae PPR OY Berane. Selec. a % a ae ow dace TRE head: neds brat, ae. war thi) covart reohal pen: urpls HP (htthers on the sbdomen’ and ¢ men witty, Thies colote 4 Hielt inline ab ~ of Harkicly arden ;| the Whole afth canis ieee Capers: (eiloand ute ee dye wings ane Porvaid ft yahasye cat enter wre AYyy 7 a - CD77 a> SAF ait © aS - 4 4 7A IK q / LAB , : Aah U wy 4 { V — > 0) ay! yp TSS WU) § 25) = = ~ r i) 2 =, aS = ae ao Rc or Fe " ps (4 “A 5 (Liab yy = el TABUAN PARRAKEET. Kidd. Etc. As ‘ Re *, tte ee vee ed i 6 fo Se. ‘fa t- aA er ? THE TABUAN PARRAKEET. 151 edges with pale ultramarine blue and emerald green; the under side of all the feathers is black; the feet and legs of this species are formed for both climbing and walking, and are of a dark gray colour; the bill is thick, and the under mandible in particular very strong; the total length of the bird is from fourteen to sixteen inches. The Tabuan Parrakeet inhabits New Holland; these, with others of the same genus, commit great havoc among the newly sown crops, and also upon those which are ripe. Modern naturalists have made a new genus of this species and its congeners ; all of which appear to be confined to New Holland ; they are analogous to the Long-tailed Parrots and Parrakeets of Asia and America. ‘They are iden- tified by the round form of the tail and wings; the former, although they are strictly cuneiform, have the webs of their feathers very broad ; their tarsi and feet are ambulatory. The Tuban Parrakeet is much upon the ground. THE RED AND BLUE MACCAW. PSITTACUS MA4C40. — LEVAILLANT. PLATE 23. Tue Maccaws hold a distinguished rank among the splendid family of which they are members. They are remarkable for their large size, as well as for the beauty and variety of their colours. A * distinguishing characteristic is their cheeks being naked, with only a few scattered feathers. Their upper mandible is much longer than the under one, has a great curvature, and is provided with a notch on each side, which corresponds with the noteh in the lower mandible; the tail is longer than the rest of the body, and graduated. They are very mild and docile in their disposition, on which account they are greatly esteemed ; but they are by | no means famous for their imitative powers, nor for their intelligence. | Maccaws live entirely on vegetable diet, and prefer such seeds and nuts as are enveloped in a coriaceous rind. They live to a great age, but. : _> = Be a "Me a — ae? ae a : Cina in Sate Ae tine ge Sa )) iat ln - r ' , 3. % » a yo © é 5 a dl . RAP B. a - tart BS oa Cistiyie Tt eR 39S ise i THE, Ri a MACCA, : HE Bwec Wy eere tue saints He pistingnishedt am Che Bibel de Waite ed Aa ich tlie, 2 Ps, “PRES suit rena Be ft hei: a rhe for Ch bau “aia vols, oe 44 er eben, oe ig aoa be share Agtiapic a nek esl, OTe halt q Fer . ed eae ore ES ie uch | Se, cae ta ae, Nae ee dite, a eee AD: Mati aw ates! cath cue | am ies ie Srvedanh ty Pee» UEC tbe Ck Tl an Wa aed daoehal ae thee dOspos | singh iwey are Bteaiiv’ bets er , G 1ounhe Tanase Tor Liar inlet ts ‘dan ivuBligoder, . : Mpsdeis five atively ‘an a valpct bed ‘boerle A CRS So ae ; a ; € Fr . eee ae a ee J PRES Ss OA: 44 - \ \ «~ * « . — a > 6 as hi \) = ‘ ~ Pt , oe + ; a 7 be “Ae @ . oe, ih +. . - vs he Ly Sate tht ae. i a igh, 4] * daoe : A 2 IR tata he wre Bs - ra J ee. a i a ae Me Mf y ' 4 , hen ¥ i. WL x; ae a Petts : tae ‘vey Be a r Bowl & > = < ‘ ai , ‘ aa od +, 4 as - ne c THE RED AND BLUE MACCAW. 153 #require considerable attention in Britain, to pre- vent the effects of our cold climate on their con- stitutions. This is more especially the case when they are newly imported ; but in a few years they Bbecome pretty well inured to the cold of ‘our SJ northern latitude. , The Red and Blue Maccaw is one of the largest and most beautiful of its group; measuring, from the crown of the head to the tip of the tail, nearly # three feet ; the tail itself being nearly two feet-in length, when in perfect condition. Its general plumage is of a deep-toned and brilliant red. A broad band of verdigris green separates the inter- # mediate wing coverts, and behind the shoulders, | from the deep violet blue of the large quill feathers of the wings. ‘The tail is generally blue at the base, brownish crimson in the middle, and blue at the extremity of the feathers, and of a blood-red colour beneath; but all these colours vary, both in intensity and extent. The cheeks and cere are white, the latter traversed by three or four rows of transverse crimson feathers. The lower mandible and the base of the upper one are of a blackish horn colour, the middle of the latter being of a dirty yellowish white, and of a dusky hue at the point. The claws are the same colour as the beak, as are also the scales which cover the legs and - toes. _ This bird inhabits Brazil, and some of the West India islands. THE INDIAN LORY. PSITTACUS COCCINEUS. — SHAW. PLATE 24. Tuis species inhabits many of the larger islan in the Indian Ocean, and is said to be very plen tiful in Amboyna. The front, nape, chin, throat, vali from th interscapulum to the tip of the tail coverts, th smaller, middle, and larger wing coverts, are of rich scarlet; the feathers of the wings bein tinged with a dusky blue at their margins. The crown, cheeks, auchenium, sides, abdomen, and tail, are of a deep Antwerp blue colour. The primary quill feathers are of a rich gamboge yellow. The bill is crimson; the — em and the legs and feet black. The Indian Lory is subject to some variety of colour, in different individuals. Shaw says it is the size of the Psittacus domicelle, or nerd capped Lory. : va. ee Ae ad c = - stat ie X Be ej ?. : iy (a ; aa 'f | ae 9 ~ i. r % ¥.. ad | Bib: i va 5% U ~. ° at a : THELEN LORM ie ee ree. \ aba 8 scape. wee w. “2 a eee < 2 we - ih an a atk, I uss | rl tae éet4 s ; Lhe: Frat, Phage, a yp tere Sa OP eet ts the tm: af Snaadee, ped did oxel Veheer wine ~~ gelea? “0 2 t 4. 4% ME a ae we toelliee thas “atthe . ry ie ht ¥ ‘sae Sais, 3 cn eta, ae ae : ve wi oa us foe Bakwany "hae gs POOR guilt Satiiors «as Tae Pee: yO Od Whe: hiit hatin othe i avid fedt blacks’ avy aS “Anam Eee te Lica Pie aptodegt ys Siebert inakehdege ‘i Ks binasteael Ra be cr Ls prsingd . 7 ee Laie! w Sop oy at AON OOF ON OM OI em mw ud im mat (tak, a oy { ; 4 pe] bert ‘ : aes yh mit Zhe crorn i, ae Fahy at BY, At Hilaite . Sees ta ba? ae a veh ted ry THE VAILLANTIAN PARRAKEEBT. | PSITTACUS VAILLANTIA.—SHAW. PLATE 25. Tus most elegant species is dedicated to Le- vaillant, a naturalist who spent his life and fortune in the publication of a series of the most splendid books on Ornithology, and which must remain as a monument of industry and refined taste, so long as the natural sciences hold a sway over the human mind. ' The Vaillantian Parrakeet is five inches and a half from the crown of the head to the extremity of the tail. It inhabits the islands of the Southern Pacific Ocean. The crown of the head, the tibial feathers, extending in a circular form round the lower part of the abdomen, are of a bluish purple ; the cheeks, throat, breast, abdomen, and part of the back, are of a rich and deep crimson; the auchenium, wings, and tail, with the upper and under tail coverts, are of a yellowish green; the bill, feet, and legs, are yellowish brown, and the claws black. This bird is nearly allied to the Purple-headed Parrakeet, but differing in the darker colour of the purple on the head, and in the crimson on its lower parts. THE AZURE-BLUE-RUMPED PARROT. PSITTACUS CYANO-PYGIUS. —VIEILLOT. PLATE 26 & 27. Tuts Parrot holds a distinguished rank among the species which inhabit the South Sea Islands. ~ The male is of a robust form, with his tail equal / in length to the body, from the crown of the head to the vent. | All the head, face, temples, cheeks, throat, breast, abdomen, and sides, are of a brilliant scarlet, in-) clining to orange ; the under tail coverts, or crissum, | deep blue, the feathers of which are -bordered | by aring of glossy ultramarine blue, which sepa-_ rates the red of the nape from the brilliant dark’ are of a yellowish white shade, and become of a) delicate blue by the reflection of light; the upper’ covering of the wings and quill feathers are of the | same green as the back, in the exterior feathers, | ie -. we ~~ a“ ~~ . ‘ r > ee oe ow ty ee Mae, i The ee syfot baldag@'a . Tn " th shits tail . “row aot the ate cot af Be mney. tail ciel Ss ian Nii ies ‘ ait ae el os ; rea oe eo cashiers: whyeh sor Sa peer talks “Die ih a faa 5 bccn Wine'ss “the Migr ond ae eee, Fie low ap pahite 4 ee te a ‘. : wv f rh, 4 - NOS pe Linn 4 UAE oe a > - tnt p bay | 7, —_ 3 7 ~*~ (SCG, A, anlar 3 f ; i r CS ~ ii. , ‘ os iy “y << 4 a t > a7 »s te tak) <7 3. , . a ¢ Wy P) an 7..." Die unt *2 Me oo . , - »* i ‘ Aw oe ——- et — ay iin Oe Dae TS RS . P eee ee y 2 mA > Ss - : ee A od 1H, Ka) - : Pad > ik - ee eee ~2 . “ . Ta he yy et F Ys Te © et es eS > or: L 7 a ‘7 -- 4+ iw . 4 « J - q , z » ¥ a e ¢ = 2 “ t of * + a Tete, OR ae - a” gh} Pose 7 S . P - ; -— t . " J « arias ,. er: pm 3 a * Ee oy ier rs o> 4 4 lags 2 et habs es Sika Betas. ck ene, , of a Hebe a ae, sides, dtebfore paige) to fig eS the sides; Bi ah Gees: so Geile ba te > ee #. THE AZURE-BLUE-RUMPED PARROT. 157 but having their interiors black ; the twelve feathers of the tail are of various lengths, but not so decidedly different as in many other of the Parra- keets of the same division; the inequality is less between the outer lateral feathers, and the longest intermediate feathers, which are of a bronzed green, the laterals of a bluish violet, and the exterior ones edged with green; the upper mandible is of a deep red, except at the point, which is black; the ophthalmic region is naked and black. The female of this Parrakeet differs so much from the male, that it might be easily mistaken for a distinct species. She is less than the male bird; her head, face, and back of her neck, are of a rich and deep green; the throat, sides, and fore part of the neck, the breast, to the lower part of the ster- num, are of a yellowish green; like the male, her tail coverts are blue, and all the abdominal region and thighs are of the same red colour as in the male; the under tail coverts are green, edged with red; the scapulars, all the upper coverings, and even the upper parts of the wings, are green, but not of so dark a shade as in the male; the under part of the wings, and the interior edges of the points of their longest quill feathers, are of a blackish tinge; all the feathers of the tail are green, shaded with blue, but more decided in those of the middle than in the side ones; the beak is blackish, as are also the feet. i ‘THE BLACK-BACKED PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS MELANOTUS. — SHAW. PLATE 28. THE whole of the head, neck, throat, breast, abde men, crissum, and tail, are of a rich yellowish gree the latter tipped with yellow; the interscapulum i black, the rump cobalt blue, changing to purple, and the upper tail coverts rich yellowish green the middle and secondary feathers of the wings ar of a rich scarlet colour, the greater coverts of deep olive green, and the primaries of blue gree the bill pinkish scarlet on the sides, and yello along the keel; the legs and feet are black. The) plumage of the Black-backed Parrakeet is, in th highest degree, vivid and elegant in its colours ; is a native of Australasia; in size it is somewhat le than the Nonpareil Parrakeet. i ESVETLS oo : raxt + Srila “Us. : got Nee aa oee ereen he vith 3 “seas em: Son Aa deinsitt Ser ye Tahoe xr! , itgir the Nompae ¥ Pum by \ we ome, oy al, LY y MFAY WH BLAC K-BACKED PARRAKEE 28 WsAA Ftc ete ney ‘ Ve le © ra’ y ree ee ; “ a . “a3 ee D Pike w ‘- »f Lae a 7 .¥ ’ ‘ao _ ; . Madd tom ek oy GR - r bs . o7 ’ A Fo | 4 \u ~ yet Ss Vetere Ce 0 slot, ? : PARROT. ZONED 29 KMadd.E tc. ‘ ot We tt , ’ | | “Ate ee A - pean Qxhibiits — Bee Seas Parrot. ted apis - ita ‘i : y “3 9 i Pacise 5 C3 y ; | bask Ds A : . = , pA - . : he J . i persue. k , r € Ma . j J * * % _“ @ Cities’ A tee A ae he Tek Bat * ine: é de - = he { «“¢ oS ies eee ¥. ; > ~ o ; J . : ’ : THE ZONED PARROT. PSITTACUS ZON ARIUS. — SHAW. PLATE 29. THE whole head of the Zoned Parrot is of a deep velvet black; having a crescent shaped collar of yellow, and a zone of the same colour invests the centre of its abdominal region; all the rest of the plumage is of a leek green, which extends to the tail feathers, the lateral ones being of a dull lilac on their exterior edges; the smaller and middie wing coverts are of the same green as the rest of the bird; the lower part of the greater coverts and quills are deep black, as well as the legs and feet; the bill is pale raw umber brown. It is thessame size as the Tabuan Parrot, and inhabits New Holland. Although the Zoned Parrot is not remarkable for the beauty of its plumage, it is reckoned a bird-of _ considerable elegance of form, and is said to be very lively and affectionate in a domesticated state. THE CERAM LORY. PSITTACUS GARRULUS. — LEVAILLANT. PLATE 920. THE whole upper and under parts of the plumage ~ of this bird is of a rich scarlet, which extends along to the lesser wing coverts, and reaches to the centre of the tail; the remaining colour of which is steel gray; on the shoulders there is a large spot of rich golden yellow; the wings are wholly of deep sea green, with the exception of the three exterior quills, which are of a reddish lilac; and the flexure of the wing is of a yellowish green; the cere and naked circle round the eye are deep blue; the bill umber brown; and the feet and claws purplish brown ; the feathers on the tibia are green. This richly coloured bird inhabits the Molucca Islands, and abounds on the island of Ceram ; hence its name. | Pte al OF nade tony es: 4a sate, and reach wt as ms, ‘ . 2¥srp ih rags colourof We Lngide ern: More ig a lange ow ¢ the Witkg oe are wily pre Ti the “@teention of the aye — . widen. ate of a ye(stieh 33 lag 3- eet igtmec} Gere SE: S wht. ye -e galls ith, precatieth sacle ie eivind & Cheep peed > 5 pola Geog. stich the Foot ji a aie Re. Rietgeer ted tae-Hhia eee 1am - 7 i ved Me re ra “ Thy peti ator. ix? ele Seghiahaty on 5 abet sendy fon toe ina OC « CERAM LORY. Kidd, Etc. PURPLE-TAILED PARRAKEET Jl. Kidd, Ete. “s ret, Glick $52 i. Po: - 4¢ 7 T a? Fos | Pe , fay >. ya >’ -& v 9 a4 ¢ ° Rs ' é / * +m xi .’s 2 ¥ D 4 A - 9 ’ . « . > “o> MoT Me writ! id ty - oe % y “a > Ye ae OF a. “ang 4 ; THE PURPLE-TAILED PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS PORPHYRURUS. — LATHAM. PLATE $l. _ Tue colours of this most beautiful species are of great brilliancy. It is a native of Cayenne, in South America. It is principally distinguished by all the rectrices being purple, except the two middle ones, which are green. It is one of the rarest birds of its tribe. The whole plumage of this bird is of a rich brilliant green ; the rump being of a fine Antwerp blue colour ; the outer great wing coverts and tips of the whole primaries are black ; it has also a patch of several black feathers on the middle of the back ; the tail feathers of a deep crimson, fringed with black ; the two middle feathers are green; the tail coverts are uncommonly long, and reach nearly to the point of the tail : this is a remarkable peculiarity m the species. The bill is dirty green, and the legs and feet of a dull pea green. o 2 TP ie THE PURPLE-HEADED PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS PORPHY ROCEPHALA. — LATHAM. PLATE 82. Tuis elegant little bird is provided with a purple crest ; its throat, cheeks, and chin, are of a fine crimson, as well as the feathers of the tibia; the whole other parts of the plumage are of a rich green; the bill is citron yellow, tipped with pale rose colour; the legs and feet are of a citron yellow. It hasa patch of green on the front of its forehead close above the bill. We are indebted to the voyagers to the southern hemisphere for the knowledge of this species. It inhabits some of the islands. The Purple-headed Parrakeet is subject to a little variety as to colour; the tibial feathers in some being green, and in others purple; the breast also is sometimes of a dusky tinge. These are probably either sexual differences, or else may be owing to more or less advanced stages in their progress towards maturity. co ieee oeg, Mee i? P * BSR, Me bai is citron yellow, Sppadw Patio. Ht hes pateh ee sae a ne Pas “Te ed Mee, - re ¥ ¥ ws but in ane at caccene lt Hinged with dusky ; thedetll'gn: legs ate ss i “) a * OG heto fdeee a slight crest. Det, awed = c a8 the Farle Reed Persiect, Seni i i p82 of thie Yolaate, eer rosie e haw ater emt tet a of its inthe, Bp colour ig of SUR tie! depp 2 40 y Greet ay thé thitownt and appar’ pitt rf thee K peio,al tbe. fenton > Qn ed ah asf THE VIOLET-BLUE PARRAKEET. PSITTACUS PORPHYRIO. PLATE 35. : Tuts diminutive bird is one of the most elegantly formed of its tribe. Its colour is of a beautiful deep violet, except on the throat and upper part of the breast, where it is white; but in some specimens it is slightly tinged with dusky ; the bill and legs are reddish yellow, and the feathers on the head are elongated, so as to form a slight crest, in the same manner as the Purple-headed Parrakeet, figured in Plate 32 of this volume. The tongue, unlike most others of its congeners, is long, and terminated by a sort of pencil of short white bristles. This bird is somewhat more than five inches in total length. The Violet-blue Parrakeet is a native of the - island of Otaheite. oye Meet) ’ t e % vest ser? ii-ivvarat te ae ae, TRE | +t SE3 SER aD aiita + ier Tat 4 tats i dete a oilibo: srgade Orit deener Ls Maa G en Retr peg ray f eds. Ssseay tral cepterm OF A age Oee * 4 * > a i 7 |: Weil ee * es ’ ve" set Ls Be 2 * AP A c UK ee Fig. V.. AW e WA ‘\ yy m\ “I}\ \\ “a NN yA" \ YN \ j}\ a) Fig a \ WS Qe Te q \\ 4 \\ 7 \) 7 7] \ i * si j \\ L \\ ee : ; , R BE 29% Ad Ys yy : 13 \\ o 3 \\ & \ a” i? Ld cain - a a ee ag - ‘hh rd ove Po Jy? ee a a a. | ry : < nf 7a v . skeet sett oR iret y Lat °* PRR MIR OHO St ee ete 2 4 and a a ; aa THOM MT oH jhe b ~ ch h i ~ i a ‘ e . s 5 a -, f PEST ff YP a ‘. = ; — me 23 : pay, Sia rie: 5 aG a ‘ + na £% hs Sr 7 a; ' i. 1 Pius ® Dr Wt 2 ie vs Bae TERMINOLOGY OF BIRDS. OLD TERMINOLOGY. PLATE 36. Figure 2. The AuRICULARS, or feathers which cover the ears, 1. The Crowy, 2. The Naps, 3. Upper and under mandibles, or chaps, 4-4. Chin, 5. The interscapular region, 6. Tail coverts; these feathers cover the tail at its upper side or base, 7. _ Lessrr Wine Covenrts, 8-8-8-8, — (tectrices prime, Linneus,* —these are small feathers that le in several rows on the bones of the wings. - Greater Wine Coverts, 9-9-9-9, —(tectrices secunde, Linn.) — the feathers that lie immediately over the quill feathers and the secondaries. ‘ The Scarutars, 10-10-10, or those feathers which take their rise from the shoulders, and cover the sides of the back. _ The Seconparies, 11-11-]1-11, or secondary quills,—(secondaria, on, tates Linn. )— those that rise from the second bone. The Tertrats, 12-12. — These also take their rise from the second bone at the elbow joint, forming a continuation of the secondaries, and seem to do the same with the scapulars which lie over them. These feathers are so long in some species of the Scolopax and Tringa, that when the bird is flying, they give it the appearance of having four wings, as . 168 TERMINOLOGY OF BIRDS. in the figure we have given. In nearly all other species they are but a little longer than the S—EconDARIEs. The Primaries, or Primary Quitts, 13-13-13-13, —(primores, Linn.) —the largest feathers of the wing; they rise from the first bone. The SHoutper, 14-14. The Bastarp WInGs, or Spurious Wines, 15-15. The Rump, 16. Mippte Tart FeatHER, 17. The Vent feathers, 18. The Tuicu, 19. The knee joint, 20. The leg, 21. The UnpEr Coverts are those which line the inside or under surface of the wings. Figure 3. The Cert —(cera, Linn. )—the naked skin which covers the base of the bill, a. The Orsirs—(orbita, Linn. )—the skin which surrounds the eye. It is generally bare, as in Parrots and the Heron, &c. e, e. A Notcuep Mandible, c. A Crest, d. Figure 1. According to the New Nomenclature, the principal parts of Birds are eight, as follow : — I. The Rostrum, ¢1. Mazilla, upper part, or mandible of the bill or beak, bill, fig. I. a. whichis divid- ) 2. Mandibula, the lower mandible, b. ed into 3 parts. \8. Gongs, point of the Mandibula, ec. The beak is again subdivided into 5 parts. 1. Wares, the nostrils, fig. III. a. 2. Dertrum, the hook. 3. Culmen, the ridge, fig. II. 6. 4. Mesorhinium, the upper ridge. 5. Cera, the wax, or cere on the bill, fig. III. a, b. — oR go bo II. Carut, the head, which is divided into 18 parts. PSPS — ed 12. 13. | 15. a “ neck which i of divided into 2 1 Lt i = 1. Cervix, the hinder 1 Nucha, nape of . “II. Cottum, the | | = 14. parts. 2. Gutter, the throat, TERMINOLOGY OF BIRDS. 169 . Lorum, the naked line at the base of the bill, fig. I. d. Lingua, the tongue. Frons, the forehead, fig. I. e. fig. I. ¢. Capistrum, the face, fig. II. a. Sinciput, the hinder part of the head, fig. I. f. Corona, the crown of the head, fig. I..g. Regio ophthalmica, region of the eyes, h. Oculus, the eye. Orbita, the orbits or centre of the eyes. Tempora, the temples, i. - Supercilium, the eye-brows, 7. Gena, the cheek, h. _ Crista, the crest, fig. III. d. Cornua, the horns, as exemplified in the horned owls, consisting of upright bunches of feathers. Barba, the beard, fig. I. 4. Mentum, the chin, m 7. Aures, the ears, Regio baptinis the protuberance behind the ear, o part of the neck, which includes 2 parts, from p to q. the neck, p. 2. Auchenium, part below the nape,q- 1. Caruncule, or wattles,the fleshy substances under the throat of the cock, &c. 2. Gula, the gul- let, r. 3. Jugulum, the lower part of the throat, s. 4, Saccus jugula- | ris, the crop. which is subdi- vided into 4 parts. 170 TERMINOLOGY OF BIRDS. IV. Dorsum, (1. Interscapulum, between the shoulders, ¢, ¢. the back, 2. Humeri, the shoulders, u which isdi- < 3. Zergum, the middle of the back, v. vided into | 4. Scapularis, the scapulars, w. 5 parts. L 5. Uropygium, the rump, or tail coverts, 2. 1. Pectus, the breast, A. V. Corpus, | 2. Aville, the arm-pits, B. the body {| 3. Abdomen, the abdomen, C. C. C. which is di- 4 4. Hypochondria, the sides of the a 4 D.D. vided into | 5. Epigast,ium, the stomach, EZ. 7 parts. 6. Venter, the belly, F. F. 7. Crissum, the vent, G. 1. Flexura, the bend of the wing, H., Vi dna. Be % Pectrices majores, largest wing coverts, J. J. ; j 3. Tectrices mede, middle wing-coverts, J. J. Sony Seen 4. Tectrices minores, smallest win ts, K.K. : vite ee alae aes into 4 atthe. 5. Primaria, guills, Z. Z. 6. Femiges, rowers, M. % Alula spuria, bastard wing, WV. and fig. II. 15, WES, Cane de Reectrices intermedia, or Middle tail the kad tan Tectrices cauda intermedia. feathers, O. 2 parts. 9, Rectrices laterales, or Side tail fea- Tectrices caude@ laterales. thers, P. 1. Femora, the thighs, fig. IV. e. ss 1. Acrostarsium, front 2. Tibia, the part from of the leg, fig. IV. a. the foot to the | 9 Pianta, back of the VIII. Cros, thigh, whieh con-") "legs ig. 10a te the leg, which tains 3 parts, Ft. | 5, Calcaria, the spurs, is divided in- fig. IV. a. as in domestic cock. to 3 parts. lL. Digiti, the toes. 3. Pes, or Tarsus, the | 2. Hallux, the great, or foot, which contains hind toe, fig. IV. b, e. 3 parts. 3. Ungues, the clays, fig. IV. f- The bones of th. wing are, first, the Brachium, fig. V. A A —second, the Cubitus, B.B.—third, the Carpus, C. C.— fourthly, the spurious wing bone, D. ADVERTISEMENTS WILL BE INSERTED IN _| THE MISCELLANY OF NATURAL HISTORY, ON THE FOLLOWING TERMS: — | Under 16 lines, (Same CET 3 £010 6 _ | Each additional line, ; : : 00 6 | A page, ‘ ; F ; . oul? Gece For stitching in Bills not exceeding 16 pages, Two Guineas. aR aan il Be heh U9. . { i - fee AEE ae tan. 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A limited number of Proofs have been taken on Royal Quarto. _ Plain paper, 6s. ; India, 7s. 6d. ; India before the Letiers, 10s. 6d. ** Adequately to describe the delicate beauty of these splendid Plates, does not appear to lie within the power of language. ‘here is not an _ admirer of the works of the departed Noble Poet, who can feel satisfied _ that he has a perfect edition of them, unless the ‘ Byron GaLLEry,’ be attached to it. There is no instance in which excellence in poetry and the arts are so admirably combined.”’ In post 4to. Price 4s. 6d. half-bound, THE HOME ACCOUNT BOOK; or, HOUSEKEEPER’S REGISTER of FAMILY EXPENSES; _ anew and improved edition, arranged upon the excellent System _ recommended in the ‘*‘ Home Book,” and exhibiting the Weekly, _ Monthly, Quarterly, and Annual Expenditure for every article of _ Domestic Consumption. Also, by the same Author, Price 5s. boards, THE HOME BOOK; or, YOUNG HOUSE- KEEPER’S ASSISTANT; forming a complete System of Domestic Economy, for the guidance of persons having the manage- ment of a Househeld of either large or smal! extent ; with va!uable Directions for effectually checking the many impositions practised upon respectable Families, by Servants, &c. &c. The whole wo from Forty-Five Years’ practical Experience. By a ADY. 10 THE MISCELLANY OF INTERESTING WORKS recently published by “* These two useful volumes form the most complete System of Domestic Management for the guidance of the young and inexperienced Housekeeper that has ever appeared.” *’Po our judgment, this is incomparably the best arranged work of its class that we have seen.”—La Belle Assemblée. ** Of the Home Books,” by a Lady, we cannot speak too me They are the most useful presents for brides, and the hundr of pounds which they may save, and the vexations which they may prevent, are results from their study which need not be applauded.” — Gentleman’s Magazine. THE TRAVELLER’S GUIDE THROUGH SWITZERLAND. In demy, 8vo. illustrated, price 12s. A JOURNEY TO SWITZERLAND, and Pedestrian Tours in that country; including a Sketch of its History, and of the Manners and Customs of its Inhabitants ; forming altogether a complete and absolutely indispensable guide to the visitors of that romantic region. By L. Acassiz, Esq. late of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. RAJAH RAMMOHUN ROY. AN EXPOSITION OF THE PRACTICAL OPERATION OF THE JUDICIAL AND REVENUE SYS- TEMS OF INDIA, and of the general Character and Condition of its Native Inhabitants, as submitted in evidence to the Autho- rities in England; with Notes and Illustrations. Also a brief ' preliminary Sketch of the Ancient and Modern Boundaries, and of the History of that Country. Elucidated by a Map of India. By Rasau Rammonuun Roy. Demy 8yo. price 6s. boards. Also, just published, by the same Author, AN ESSAY ON THE RIGHT OF HINDOOS OVER ANCESTRAL PROPERTY, according to the Law of Bengal. Second Edition; with an Appendix, containing Letters on the Hindoo Law of Inheritance. emy 8yvo. price 2s. 6d. stitched. ‘* The learning, benevolence, and talent of this distinguished Rajah, render all the opinions which he ao concerning our Eastern dominions, worthy of attention.’"—Aé um. ‘*It is scarcely necessary formally to recommend this work; the importance of the subjects discussed, and the superior qualifications of the author for discussing them, are ample recommendations." —7% ** Rammohun Roy’s work must be esteemed valuable. Of its very remarkable author the public have long ago heard. His extraordinary literary attainments, his knowledge of our language, writers, customs, history, &c. are truly surprising, and afford a high idea of the intellect of the natives of India.”’— Metropolitan. NATURAL HISTORY ADVERTISER. j] SMITH, ELDER & Co. Cornhill, London. LOGAN’S HIGHLANDS AND HIGHLANDERS. In two volumes, demy 8vo. Price 50s.— Royal 8vo. Price £2, 2s. ; Dedicated, by permission, to his Majesty. THE SCOTTISH GAEL; or, Celtic Manners, as preserved among the Highlanders. Being an Historical and Descriptive Account of the Inhabitants, Antiquities, and National Peculiarities of Scotland, more particularly of the Northern, or Gaelic Parts of the Country, where the singular Habits of the Aboriginal Celts are still most tenaciously retained. Illustrated by upwards of Sixty descriptive Plates, and accurately coloured Engravings ef the Costumes of the Highland Clans; with correct Specimens and Descriptions of their respective Badges, Tartans, &ce. &c. By James Locan, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. This Work may be justly designated “‘ Toe Crentic Cycto- P2zDIA,” as every thing connected with the History of the Ancient and Modern Gael, and the different branches of the same Race, in the British Isles, and elsewhere, is minutely described, illustrated, and traced to the primitive inhabitants of Western Europe. *¢ Mr Logan has acquitted himself loyally to his country, and faith- fully to literature — his work bears in every page the unequivocal evi- dence of observation and research. ‘To all Scotsmen, and lovers of Scotland—to every inquirer into the histury of man—we recommend Mr Logan’s book.”’— Atheneum. ** Mr Logan’s work will have the ger effect of clearing up many doubts, and of shewing the Celts and Lowlanders in a more distinct light than they have hitherto been relatively placed ; it possesses also the merit of being accurate, patient in details, highly descriptive, and always entertaining. Wherever there is asmall collection of books pretending to the character of a Library, this History of the Scottish Gael should be added to it without loss of time.”’— Atlas. ‘“* A production of much research and ability, and replete with interesting investigations into our Northern Antiquities. .1t deserves the warmest patronage of the public, as a most meritorious, curious, and sterling performance.”—Literary Gazette. MY OLD PORTFOLIO; or, TALES AND SKETCHES. By Henry Gtassrorp Bett, Ese. Author of «Summer and Winter Hours.” Post 8vo. Price 9s. boards. “There are passages in the volume of intense and commanding passion,—there are passages full of the most delicate and acute sense of the beauties of Nature,— and there are passages of rich racy humour. The author is a man of genius in the strict acceptation of the term.”’—Tait’s Magazine. ** A keen conception of the ridiculous, an overflowing of the buoyant spirits of youth, a deep feeling of natural beauty, and a creative and wild fancy, are the characteristics of a mind which seems to us rather to have tried its wings than its powers, in this work.’’—Literary Gazette. 3 “ Mr Bell is neither a heavy dragoon nor a black hussar; but asa literary no horseman, or rather rifleman, toying and yet dealing with his du e has probably no equal among the literary men of Scotland. To us endless quips and cranks are more amusing than even those of Thomas Hood himself.” —Dumfries Courier. re en reer ee te ee a CE A eer ee EE EE EEE EE —ee— 12 THE MISCELLANY OF INTERESTING WORKS recently published by In foolscap 8vo. Price 6s. cloth extra, illustrated by a Map, THE LIFE AND TRAVELS OF THE | APOSTLE PAUL; combining, with his eventful History, a | — description of the past and present state of the various Cities and | | Countries visited by him in the course of his Ministry, and of the Manners and Customs of the People among whom he preached. “This is one of the most interesting works we ever read.””— Edinburgh Ecclesiastical Journal. | ‘* Every admirer of Scriptural History ought to give this excellent | _— work a place in his library.”"—Sunday Times. “* An interesting and a copious volume, creditable to the industryand | © learning of the author.”—Spectator. ‘* This is an extremely interesting and instructive volume—one most likely to engage the youthful mind, and to be read with equal pleasure and profit. Wecan safely say, that a book of this description, more deserving of a wide popularity, has not lately been produced ; and we ~ heartily wish it every success.”—Literary Gazette. ** Not only with younger readers, but with Christains generally, this interesting narrative will be found to have great claims to attention.” Christian Remembrancer, Just completed, in demy 12mo. Price 7s. 6d. extra cloth, THE SHAKESPERIAN DICTIONARY, Forming a General Index to all the Popular Expressions, Quota- tions, and most striking Passages in the Works of Shakespeare. from a few Words to Fifty or more Lines. To each extract is affixed an appropriate Synonym, with a reference to the Context, The whole designed to introduce the Beauties of Shakespeare into the familiar intercourse of Society. By THomas Dorsy, Gent. An Edition of this valuable work is published in demy 8yo. to correspond with the large Library Editions of Shakespeare; price 12s. boards. ‘¢ Mr Dolby’s volume is entitled to the praise of being the best and | — most ample of the Selections of Shakespeare.””—Monthly Review. | “ This isa very valuable index to the popular expressions and most | — striking passages in the works of our immortal bard, and of great | utility as a book of reference to foreigners, young persons, and others | to whom the beauties of the original may not otherwise be intelligible.” East India Mugazine. ; t ‘ ‘* A great deal of pains has been taken with this work, which may ‘ truly be termed the Beauties of Shakespeare. It isan excellent Table |~ Book, pleasing and useful for reference, and highly interesting, if Fi merely taken up for its own sake.”—Literary Gazette. : ‘© It is a decided improvement on ‘* Dodd’s Beauties,” and will be found extremely serviceable as a book of easy reference for appropriate extracts.” — Weekly Dispatch. THE ADVENTURES OF NAUFRAGUS, Written by Himself; giving a faithful Account of his Voyages, Shipwreck, and Travels, frem his first outset as a Midshipman in ~ the East India Company’s Service, till he became a Commander in - NATURAL HISTORY ADVERTISER. 13 SMITH, ELDER & Co. Cornhill, London. the Indian Seas; including a general description of India, of the Hindoo Superstitions, Idolatry, and Sacrifices of the Suttee, or Immolation of Hindoo Widows, &c. &c. Second edition, 8vo. Price 9s. boards. ** From the extraordinary nature of the adventures described in the volume under this name, and the extreme youth of the author, we formed an opinion that the work was a collection of facts and observa- tions which had occurred to various persons, and were strung together, ‘for the sake of uniformity, as having happened to a single individual. In this, however, we learn that we have been mistaken ; for we have received a letter from Naufragus himself, affording us not only most satisfactory evidence of his identity, but such convincing reasons to rely upon the authenticity of his narrative, that we can no longer entertain a doubt upon the subject, and we have only to say, that the certainty of its reality adds greatly to the interest of his eventful story.”—Literary Gazette. ‘If you wish for a pleasant travelling companion, or a friend to beguile a lonely or a tedious hour—if you have any desire to view an interesting, we might truly say, a wonderful picture of real life, read the Adventures of Naufragus.’’—Scotsman. THE LAST OF THE PLANTAGENETS. An Historical Narrative, illustrating some of the Public Events and the Ecclesiastical and Domestic Manners of the Fifteenth and Six- teenth Centuries. Second Edition, demy 8vo. 12s. boards. *©One of the most faithful and delicate narratives that the whole library of English Romance can furnish. The plaintiveness, purity, and simplicity of the diction, and the monastic quietness, the unaffected tenderness, and repose of the incidents, must render this volume a permanent favourite with all readers of taste and feeling.”"—Alas. “The * Last of the Plantagenets’ is written by one evidently master of his subject: it seems to us the very language in which royal and knightly deeds should be recorded ; and the tone of religious melan- choly throughout, suits well with an age where the quiet of the cloister must have had inducements to the war-worn and weary man, with which, in our tranquil times, we can have little sympathy.”— Literary Gazette. WORKS BY THE REV. C. B. TAYLER. EMINENTLY CALCULATED AS PRESENTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. qe Just Published, Foolscap 8vo. Price 6s. cloth, or 9s. morocco extra, MONTAGUE; OR, IS THIS RELIGION? A new Edition, revised and illustrated. ‘©The author reads a salutary lesson to parents and their offspring. - It is a book full of moral pictures, all admirable, and all tending to practical usefulness.’’— Teacher’s Magazine. “ The work is written in a simple and elegant style, and so admirably — true to Nature, that we have no doubt its perusal will affurd both plea- | sure and profit.’’—Christian Advocate. : - ©The story of Montague Should be read and studied by every parent | in the kingdom.’’—Chronicle. Q2 ee eS 14 THE MISCELLANY OF INTERESTING WORKS recently published by 2: The Third Edition, in two vols. Price 14s. cloth, or 20s. morocco extra, THE RECORDS OF A GOOD MAN’S LIFE. “* We most earnestly recommend this elegantly written and enter- taining work to the perusal of all young persons who desire instruction blended with amusement. A spirit of true piety breathes through every page; and whilst the innocent recreation of the reader is ampl consulted, his motives to virtue and morality receive an additio stimulus.’’— Monthly Review. ‘* ‘There is not a word in these volumes which does not come from a pure and gentle, arefined and elegant, afervent and pious spirit ; there is not a word in them which is not dictated by a sincere and earnest desire to forward the cause of the Gospel, and to urge the necessity of its momentous truths on the heart.’ — British Magazine. “We earnestly recommend this work to the attentive perusal of rents por person, and of every one who wishes to be religious,” — ispatch. ** These volumes have very high claims upon the notice of the religious world ; Mr Tayler’s picture of a good man is as successful an embodying of the strict doctrines of Christianity as we have ever met with. It may be placed on the same shelf with another holy volume, THE RECTORY OF VALEHEAD.”—Spectator. ** Our attention has been particulary arrested by this work, which we consider calculated to do much good.” — Literary Gazette. . 3 The Second Edition, illustrated, Price 6s. cloth, or 9s. morocco extra, A FIRE-SIDE BOOK; or, The Account of a Christmas Spent at Old Court. ** This little volume is as a row of pearls strung upon a thread of gold. It has an elegant simplicity pervading it, which is very pleasing, and a sterling value in its pure Christian morality, that gives it astill higher claim to praise.’’— Gentleman’s Magazine. If elegant iy ez and interesting narratives can recommend these pages, they will be universal favourites.’ — Literary Gazetle. ‘It is altogether one of the most charming books the season has produced.” —Literary Chronicle. 4, In demy 12mo. Price 5s. the Second Edition of A VOLUME OF SERMONS. ‘* Well meriting a high rank among the pious labours of the ministry, is this simple, but admirable volume ; directed to instruct and improve even the most ignorant ; while it reflects lustre on the Christian motives of its amiable author, it at the same time does honour to his talents.’’— Literary Gazette. ** Written in the unaffected and unpretending style which marks Mr Tayler to be a gentleman and a scholar, with a zeal which proves him to be a good clergyman, and with the charity which proves him to be a good Christian, his little volume places him, in our humble judgment, mm a rank which popular and fashionable preachers, if they were capable of appreciating the higher praise which does not come from a mob, might covet, and covet in vain to reach.’’— Atheneum. - NATURAL HISTORY ADVERTISER. 15 SMITH, ELDER & Co. Cornhill, London. 5. Preparing for Publication, by the same Author, THE CHILD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. A Book for Young People. 6. In foolscap 8vo. Price 1s. 6d. sewed, SOCIAL EVILS, AND THEIR REMEDY ; A Series of Narratives on Political and Christian Economy. No. 1. entitled “* THE MECHANIC,” appeared on the First of October: the future Numbers will be published Quarterly. ‘‘ This respected clergyman has talents of a very high order for instructing and edifying his readers. His imagination is vivid, his taste is correct, while his extensive and general knowledge so eminently qualify him for the meritorious and useful task he has now undertaken, that the public may look forward to the most satisfactory results from his present labours in their service.*’ PUBLISHED BY SMITH, ELDER AND CO. CORNHILL, LONDON. Published this day, Price 5s. SIR WALTER SCOTT’S POETRY, VOLUME THE SEVENTH, WITH INTRODUCTION, VARIOUS READINGS, AND COPIOUS NOTES. This Volume contains MARMION, and is illustrated by TURNER'S Designs of EDINBURGH from Blackford Hill, and ASHESTIEL, the Residence of the Author when the Poem w written. Printed for R. Caprit, Edinburgh; and Wuirraxer and Co, ) London ; Who have also Just Published I. Vol. 35 of the NEW ISSUE of the WAVERLEY NOVELS. II. WAVERLEY NOVELS, New Edition. XLVIII. vols. Ill. DELAWARE; A Tale, 3 vols. 1V. CAPTAIN BASIL HALL’S FRAGMENTS. Third and. Concluding Series, 3 vols. V. STUART’S NORTH AMERICA, 2 vols. 3d Edition. VI. SIR WALTER SCOTT’S POETRY, New Edition. Vols. 1 to 6. VOLUME EIGHTH OF SIR WALTER SCOTT’S POETRY, containing the LADY OF THE LAKE, and other Poems, will appear on Ist December. a 16 THE MISCELLANY OF RECENTLY PUBLISHED, AND SOLD BY FRASER & CO. 54, NORTH BRIDGE, EDINBURGH ; AND ORR & SMITH, LONDON, WHITE’S NATURAL HISTORY OF SEL- BORNE;; Observations on Nature ; and the Naturalist’s Calendar. With Woodcuts by Bonner, And Notes by Captain THomas Brown, F.L.S. One volume foolscap 8vo, 3s. 6d. extra boards. ** White’s Selborne is now a general favourite; it has been edited in a variety of forms and by several distinguished persons. It is now taken up by Captain Brown. His notes to this book prove him to be an original inquirer. Many of them are very curious, and whether his own, or collected from other sources, they altogether form the best commentary that has yet been appended tothe original. The study of Natura | History has made great progress of late, and much of the impetus it has received is to be attributed to the Historyof Selborne.— Westminster Review. “The work is illustrated bya variety of amusing miscellaneous notes from the pen of Captain Thomas Brown; and makes a maryel- lously low-priced volume. There are, among the other charms of the edition, afew woodcuts of birds, some of them of almost Bewickal beauty and liveliness.”— Tait’s Magazine. ‘* The edition before us is decidedly the best and most complete which has yet been given to the public. ‘The new portion is fully equal to the quantity of matter contained in the original work. ”— Evening Post. ‘** Were it possible for us to speak in the threefold capaciy of re- viewers, fathers of families, and teachers, onr honest opinion would be, that we are not acquainted with any volume which we would svoner recommend to a friend, a child, or a pupil.”” —Ayr_Observer. IL. WALTON AND COTTON’S ANGLER. With 28 Beautiful Illustrations. Edited by Professor Rennie. One volume foolscap 8vo, 3s. 6d, extra boards. ** And now we are presented with Walton’s Angler —‘ old Izaak, the most delightful of talkers,’—edited by Professor Rennie, whose knowledge of natural science, and enthusiasm for the sport, doubly gifted him for doing justice to his subject.”,— Ayr Observer. _. lil. ? GOLDSMITH’S MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. With Portrait, Vignettes, New Life, Notes, Index, &c. 4 volumes foolscap 8vo, price 14s. in elegant morocco cloth boards. Think of four ornamental volumes in green morocco, or morocco. like binding, gilt-lettered, and crammed with letterpress, leaving the publisher’s counter for half-a-crown the volume or less! The price to the public is three shillings and sixpence per volume; that is to say, for fourteen shillings, the lover of the finest specimens of English ss and the English language may possess himself of the entire liscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith.’’ — Spectator. _“ The present volumes, besides containing all the original produc. tions collected informer editions of his works, are enriched with several additional pieces and letters, and various readings are also introduced for the first time.”"— Edinburgh Observer. _- — a er. re: Ss 7 eS ee NATURAL HISTORY ADVERTISER. 17 FRASER & Co’s. BOOKS. ** The present edition is one which we hesitate not to pronounce the most complete that has yet been offered to the public. It not only contains all the pieces which have appeared in former editions, but boasts of several new pieces which are now inserted for the first time. We are also here presented with the various readings of certain of his more celebrated poems — a feature in this edition by no means unim- portant to the student of literature ; and what is perhaps still more interesting, we have prefixed to it one of the best biographical Memoirs of Goldsmith ; —a Memoir which rests on less questionable authority than many of its predecessors, and which paints the eccentricities of a life which has been passed in a singular alternation ofidleness and extraordinary exertion, of great privation and luxurious enjoyment, of dependent beggary and the most boundless extravagance. It perhaps may:not be deemed unimportant to state, that the volumes now before us, meet, in every sense of the word, the economizing views of the present day. They are, in fact, at once suitable to the tastes of the rich, and the purses of the poor.”—Argus. ** The Life of the author deserves to be noticed as one of the most elegant specimens of biographical composition, we do not hesitate to Say, in the language.’ — Historical Newspaper. IV. ROBINSON CRUSOE, With an Appendix, containing Howet.’s Account or ALEXANDER SELKIRK, an inte- resting piece of biography. To which is subjoined KIRKBY’S Philosophical Romance of the HISTORY OF AUTOMATHES. Iwo volumes, price 7s. in morocco boards. NEARLY READY; GILPIN’S FOREST SCENERY, WITH IMPORTANT AND EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS BY SIR THOMAS DICK LAUDER, Barr. AND NEARLY THIRTY EXQUISITE ETCHINGS OF FOREST TREES AND ANIMALS, BY MR J. B. KIDD. Gilpin’s Forest Scenery has long been held in high estimation by the retined lover of Nature; but, like White’s Selborne, and some other delightful works of a similar character, it has hitherto been inaccessible to readers in general. It is now published ina form at once so handsome and so cheap, that it cannot fail to become univer- sally known ; and the very extensive additions which the research of the author of the Morayshire Floods has enabled him to make to the present edition, will be found greatly to enhance both the value and the interest of the book. The Ilustrations speak for themselves, and will be found, it is hoped, to add to Mr Kidd’s already well-earned fame as an artist. Fraser & Co. 54, Nortu BripGe, and Orr & Smitn, LONDON. oa | 18 THE MISCELLANY OF <_< ‘ett LL LEDS CL LLL LLL LL LLL LL LL ee In fifteen Monthly Volumes, (twelve of which are already pub- | lished,) Price 5s. euch, bound in cloth, uniformly with Byron and Scott, VALPY’S SHAKESPEARE. With one hun- dred and Seventy Illustrations from tie Plates in BoypeE.u’s Epirion, Life, Glossarial Notes, &e. EDITED BY A. J. VALPY, M.A. late Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford. Each volume averages eleven Plates, printed on fine tinted paper. The text of Malone is adopted; Glossarial notes on all obsolete words are given; a brief Historical Digest and an Argument prefixed to each play. In additon to the many advantages offered in the present edition, it will be embellished with 170 Illustrations, executed on steel, in the best style of outline, from the plates in Boydell’s Shakespeare, which was published at £ 95 and large paper at 1901. The youthful reader will be directed to the most striking passages by an Index, at the end of the work, forming a complete reference to the beauties of Shakespeare. ** An admirable idea, and capitally put in execution. The outline engravings abound, and are excellently done; type good, size con- venient, price next to nothing, the subject ‘ Shakespeare.’ If this combination do not attract, there’ is neither taste nor patriotism in England.’’— United Service Journal. ** It is impossible to read Valpy’s annotations of his Shakespeare, without feeling aconviction of their general accuracy.”—Northampton Free Press, ‘*The typography is so beautiful, and the paper and manner of getting up so excellent, that this must be considered the cheapest and best edition of the bard of Avon extant.’’ — gs Magazine. ‘“* Nothing evinces more pointedly the high refinement to which civilization has attained amongst us, than the preduction of a work like this.” — Metropolitan Magazine. z * ,* Subscribers can be supplied with Vol. I and the following Volumes, monthly, at any time during the progress of the work. Printed and Published by A. J. Vatry, M.A. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street ; and sold by all Booksellers. HINTS ON THE EVIDENCES OF CHRIS- TIANITY, by Josern Joun Gurney. Third Edition, 18mo. price Is. 6d. cloth, lettered ; and Is. sewed. Also by the same Author, BRIEF REMARKS ON THE HISTORY, AUTHORITY, AND USE OF THE SABBATH. Third edition, 18mo. price Is. 6d. cloth, lettered; and Is. sewed. Published by John ‘and Arthur Arch, Cornhill; J. Rivington & Co. St Paul’s Churchyard, London; George Davey, Bristol ; and Wilkin and Fletcher, Norwich. : NATURAL HISTORY ADVERTISER. 19 POLYMICRIAN LIBRARY GENERAL LITERATURE, EDITED BY F. C. MEADOWS, M. A. OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS, &Kc. &e. ON NOVEMBER 16, 1833, WILL BE PUBLISHED, TO BE CONTINUED IN MONTHLY POCKET VOLUMES, VOLUME I. EMBELLISHED WITH SIXTY PORTRAITS, Engraved on Steel, in the best style of the urt, by Lizars, Price 4s. 6d. Morocco Cloth Boards. Also Nos. Ito VIII. Each containing Ten Portraits, and Forty-eight pages Letter-press, Price 6d. to be continued Weekly, OF A GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY, bey? COMPREHENDING NOTICES OF THE LIVES OF DISTINGUISHED MEN OF ALL AGES 3 AND COUNTRIES, ANCIENT AND MODERN. The Genera BioGrarxy, it is expected, will be completed in four or five Volumes, which will thus be enriched with about three hundred beautiful Portraits. PROSPECTUS. Tt will be the study of the Publishers of the ‘‘ Potymicrian Liprary” to keep pace with the increasing desire for intellectual improvement pervading all classes of society in the present day. At a time when both the Metropolitan and the Provincial press is teeming with unprofitable and frivolous literature, they are desirous to seize upon and direct the popular taste to subjects of a higher and more substantial character, calculated alike to elevate and sustain the tone of intelligence and moral feeling, and to neutralize the enervating influence of that exclusively light and imaginative reading which obtains among a vast portion of the community. In no way will this ever be more effectually accomplished than in such a publication as the present, —steering clear, on the one hand, of the dry abstruseness of works especially Hetoned to Science and Philoso- phy, and on the other presenting an incentive to read, by blending together the UTILE ET DULcE—the graceful, the agreeable, and the useful of literature. Farther the Publishers deem it unnecessary to proceed in recom. mending to the friends of real improvement an undertaking which 20 THE MISCELLANY OF Prospectus—P OL YMICRIAN LIBRARY. embraces so many claims to their attention and support. Their success is guaranteed by the talent of the Gentleman who has undertaken the Editorial management of the work, and who will be ably assisted in the varied departments into which it will extend ; while they have spared no expense or pains in their other arrange- ments, to ensure its beautiful typography, and its numerous splendid Embellishments and Illustrations, a place in the first Order of the Art. In conclusion,the publishers have no hesitation in affirming that the “ Potymicrian Lisrary” will form the most complete body of Userun KNow tence in the whole range of modern litera- ture, in the smallest practicable compass, and at the lowest possible price. THE POLYMICRIAN LIBRARY WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING DIVISIONS: 1. GENERAL BIOGRAPHY ; to be complete in about Five Volumes. (See preceding page. ) Il. HISTORY ; —viz. 1. HUME & SMOLLET’S HISTORY OF ENGLAND, (unabridged, ) brought down to the latest period, to be completed in about fen Volumes, illustrated with numerous Historical Steel Engravings,— most of them from Original Designs by eminent Artists, executed expressly for the work. 2. HISTORY OF SCOTLAND; likewise brought down to the pa dienge 4 time, and illustrated with numerous Historical Engra- vings, xe. 3 HISTORY OF IRELAND. And many other Histories, which will follow in course, and uniformly arranged and embellished with the preceding. Ill. A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF GEOGRAPHY, Ancient AND Mopern; embellished with Maps, Costumes of the different Nations, and various other Illustrations. IV. NATURAL HISTORY; comprehending the Animal, Vegetable, and Minera} Kingdoms, illustrated with coloured Engravings in Mr Lizars’s best style. V. TRAVELS and VOYAGES. VI. LAW, MEDICINE, the ARTS AND SCIENCES, &c. &c. Vil. THEOLOGY, &c. &e. Each Division of the “ Potymicrian Lizrary” will form a complete work within itself, which the purchaser will have the option of procuring in the way most convenient to himself, either in Moxtuiy Votumes, at 4s 6d. or in Numbers at 6d. Every exertion will be made on the part of the Publishers to proceed with the works through the press, with as much expedition as shal! be compatible with the required accuracy and proper execu- tion of both the typographical and illustrative departments. The History of ENGLAND is in a forward state of preparation; the first Volume, it is expected, will be ready for publication early in the month of December. London: Published by Attaw Bett. & Co. Warwick Square; and Simpxin & MaRsHAtt Stationers’ Court; Fraser & Co. and Oriver & Boyp, Edinburgh; and sold by every Bookseller in the Kingdom. “7 oe NATURAL HISTORY ADVERTISER. 21 This day is published, I. Part IX. — Price, Medium Folio, Coloured, 21s. ; Plain, 12s.— A few in Elephant Folio, (same size as Setsy’s British Orni- thology,) Coloured, L. 1, 11s. 6d. ; Plain, 15s.—To be completed in Sixteen Parts, each containing Five beautifully coloured Plates, Twenty-two inches long, by Seventeen inches broad, being considerably more than double the size of the original work. ILLUSTRATIONS OF AMERICAN ORNI- THOLOGY, including Representations of the Principal Insects, Forest Trees, and Fruits of America, Drawn, Etched, and Coloured, under the superintendence of Carprain THomas Brown, F.L.S. M.W.S. President of the Royal Physical Society. This will form one of the most elegant works hitherto published in this country, and is unprecedented for its cheapness, not exceeding, even including the Letterpress, one-sixth part of the original cost. The illustrations will comprise, not only the whole of the Birds given by ALEXANDER WiLsoN and Cuarxtes Lucian BuoNaAPaRTE, in man instances larger, and in none less, than in the original works, but will also contain various newly discovered species, including numerous papeegemetons of Insects, Fruits, and the whole Forest Trees of merica. ** Highly as we thought of the first number of this splendid work, ‘We are sensible of a considerable improvement in the numbers under our notice. They contain a much larger ae of the forest trees, which, in our opinion, adds greatly to the beauty of the plates; and the foliage and fruit are quite sufficient for every botanical purpose. Of the birds, the jays, the swallows, the bullfinches, and the parrots, are the most finely shaped, and the most brilliantly and variously coloured.” —Literary Gazette. 24th March, 1832. No. III: Price, Medium Folio, Coloured, 21s. ; Plain, 12s. ; Elephant Folio, L. 1, 11s. 6d. Il. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE GAME BIRDS OF ALL COUNTRIES, coloured after Nature, and chiefly of the size of the originals. By Cartain Tuomas Brown. Ill. THE CONCHOLOGY OF GREAT BRITAIN _AND IRELAND. From Drawings by Carrain Tuomas Brown, &e. Elephant, 4to. with Fifty-three Coloured Plates, and Letter- press Descriptions. _ There are few more beautiful volumes than Brown’s Illustrations _of British Conchology.’’ —Odserver. ¢ a EET ae = , | R 22 THE MISCELLANY ADVERTISER. IV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES OF DOGS, by Cartain Tuomas Brown, &c. Royal 18mo. 8s. 6d. boards. Ti BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES OF HORSES, by Caprain Tuomas Browy, royal 18mo. 9s. boards. EDINBURGH: FRASER & CO. 54 NORTH BRIDGE; SMITH, ELDER, & CO. AND MOON, BOYS, & GRAVES, LONDON ; AND W. CURRY, JUNIOR, & CO. DUBLIN. . THE BOOK OF BUTTERFLIES, SPHINXES, AND MOTHS ; Illustrated by Ninety-six engravings, coloured after Nature, By Captain Tuomas Browy, F.L.S. M.W.S. &c. 4 President of the Royal Physical Society. Second Edition, in Two volumes, Foolscap 8vo. Price, 12s. boards, 18mo. 7s. boards. ** Constable’s Miscellany has now revived from its sleep, and it could not have chosen a more appropriate shape, to burst from its chrysalis state, than in the form of the Golden Winged Butterflies and Moths, which constitute the contents of the two delightful volumes before us. The subject is one of the most fascinating nature, and the numerous figures, amounting to Nintey-six, are executed with such skill and beauty, as to render the trifling price at which they are offered to the ~ iy one of the wonders of the bookselling of the present day.’ dinburgh Observer. **We conclude by recommending Captain Brown’s book to the attention of every admirer of Nature, and of every lover of the fine arts, who is enabled toindulge his taste, by the purchase of more costly ublications ; and will prove an elegant addition to the furniture of the rawing room table.” Scotsman. ‘© Captain Brown is already known as a naturalist, who combines scientific knowledge with Pas nivd descriptions; and the Book of Butterflies will not detract from his reputation. What are we to sa of the cheapness of the work ? Two volumes of letterpress with Ninety-six coloured plates, for 7s. is a cost really far below our calcula- tions, and we should think unprecedented in the annals of cheap publications!” Scots Times.” ‘* We understand that those winged creatures have fluttered off a large edition in a week or two, and that a new flight is about to spread their ‘ gaily gilded wings,’ to the view of public favour.” Chronicle. Volume ITI. is in the press, and will appear on 1st December next. PUBLISHED BY WHITTAKER, TREACHER, & ARNOTT, LONDON; WAUGH & INNES, EDINBURGH; AND CURRY & CO. DUBLIN. , eS eee eee ee ee ee ee eee eee ee ee ee eee ee . er ae ah IMPORTANT WORKS ON NATURAL HISTORY, PUBLISHED BY A. FULLARTON AND CO. GLASGOW ; MACLACHLAN & STEWART, EDINBURGH; AND ORR & SMITH, LONDON. 1. A HISTORY of the EARTH and ANIMATED NATURE. By Otiver GotpsmirxH. With copious NOTES, embracing accounts of New discoveries in NATURAL HISTORY. To which is subjoined an APPENDIX, containing explanations of Technical Terms, and an outline of the Cuvierian and other systems. By Captain THomas Brown, F.L.S., M.W.'S., M.K.S., President of the Royal Physical Society, and Author of ‘ Biographical Sketches of Horses, Dogs, and Quadrupeds,’ 4 vols. royal 18mo. £1. 18s. boards, with a supplementary volume, price 10s. boards. This work is illustrated by beautiful Engravings on Steel, by Mr Rozert -Scorr; and comprises nearly eleven hundred figures of Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, Shells, Insects, &c.; being more complete in this respect than any book of the same kind hitherto published in Europe. In the Quadru- peds, Birds, and Shells, an example of ali the Genera of Cuvier, Temminck, Lamarck, and Brown are given. 2 «< That Captain Brown is perfectly qualified to discharge thé duties of a nar- rator, his previous books have sufficiently shewn — Oue principal object in noticing this book at all, however, is to point it out as a singular instance of cheap literature, “2a in an age when every thing literary is marvellously cheap.” — Edinburgh server. II. THE ZOOLOGIST’S TEXT BOOK, wherein are given the whole Generic Characters of the Animal Kingdom, wxh a description of one species of each, according to the systems of Baron Cuvier, Temminck, Lamarck, Latreille, Lacepede Geoffroy St Hillaire, &c. &c. Illustrated by about eleven hundred figures of Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Insects, Shells, &c., comprehending an example of every Genus, Sub-Genus, and Section ef the above authors. Engraved on Steel by Mr Scorr. By Captain Taomas— Brown, President of the Royal Physical Society, &c. This book is illustrated by one hundred and eight plates, comprehending upwards of eleven hundred and fifty figures of Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Insects, _ 2 . | Shells, Corals, &c. In the Quadrupeds, Birds, and Shells, an example of every genus which has been figured is given. The Classes are according to the systems of Cuvier, Temminck, Lamarck, Latreille, Lacepede, Geoffroy Si Hillaire, &c. The Zoologist’s, Text Book is altogether a new work, with the exception of the plates. The public are deeply indebted to him for the appearance of these addition: “ to the department of Science of which he is so able and enthusiastic an explorer.”— Edinburgh Evening Post. *«* This work, although sold at a guinea, is still one of the class of cheap and usefu books which has done so much of late to cultivate the taste and extend the informa. tion of the middle classes of society. The work, as a whole, must prove a valuable aid to the Student of Natural History, while it affords ample proof of the talents, perseverance, and extensive information of the Author. A few years ago Students could not have commanded such a mass of valuable description and correct illustra- tions, without expending a large sum of money; and not at all in so portable condensed and convenient a form. We trust the public will not prove indifferent to the proffered boon.’’—Scotsman. Ill. THE CONCHOLOGIST’S TEXT BOOK; accor- ding to the System of Lamarck, Linnzus, Leach, and Brown. [lustrated by upwards of three hundred and seventy figures of Shells, comprehending an example of one Species of all the Genera, Sub-Genera, and Sections of the above Authors, with a Glossary of Technical Terms, &c. By Captain Tuomas Brown, &c. royal 1Smo. 5s. boards. *¢ This forms one of a series of elementary works on Zoology, which the present indefatigable Author has lately produced ; and certainly, if any thing is likely to extend the taste for Natural History in this country, it must be the facilities which such works afford to those entering upon the study.”—Edinburgh Observer. IV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND AUTHEN- TIC ANECDOTES OF QUADRUPEDS. Illustrated by numerous Engra-. vings on Steel. By Captain Toomas Brown, &c. royal 18mo. 10s, boards. * This work is intended as a companion to two volumes which have been already published relating to Dogs and Horsés. It contains two hundred and ninety three Anecdotes ; the compilation is therefore a valuable one for lovers of Natural History. Some of the Anecdotes are quite new, and the collection is a most desirable one to possess. There is nothing abstruse in the remarks, and we have rarely seen a work so pregnant with instruction in the History of Animals, and so amusing at the same time. The Anecdotes of the Elephant and Cat are particularly interesting.’’—The Metropolitan. . V. THE TAXIDERMIST’S MANUAL, or the Art of Ce: Preparing, and Preserving Objects of Natural History for the use of Travellers, Conservators of Museums, and Private Collectors. [lustrated by six Plates. By Captain Thomas Brown, &c. royal 18mo. price 4s. 6d. boards. ** The Taxidermist’s Manual, is a work of a highly useful character. It is justly remarked, that many fine specimens in Natural History have been lost through the mere ignorance of the collector as to the means of preparing and preserving them. Such a work cannot fail to be of the greatest utility to the Student ; and we accor- dingly recommend it to the scientific public.”—Zdinburgh Evening Post. +. a cy * + a, , and 7 é ’ * ef , t “ > ‘ A el . o™ » — ¥ . " y o « Ss of rf lad * ~——s e eet ‘ P i. Be “ ~ +’ . + - : A wd - : | o 8 1 UhaA <4 re ¥* ~t aes pry . ¥ 3 in 2 i é e ¥ oo tore ? b % ' P) ‘= ¢ « ae ba + * « i. ee ee 4 Ph . _ —. 42) el lr t—™ inn ae ae = és = a | oe at Dat oa 7m aed - - — <=