Psittacus Carolinensis, Russ. Synonyms: Conurus Carolinensis, Gr., Lss., etc.;

Psittacus luteocapillus, Vll.; Psittacus ludovicianus, VG.; Aratinga ludoviciana, Stph.; Sittace ludoviciana, Wgl.;

Centurus Carolinensis, Adb.; Arara Carolinensis, Slb. et Jed.

German: Der Karolina-Sittich.

French: Perruche a tete aurore, Buffon.

NO Parrot inhabits so high a northern latitude as the subject of the present notice, whose place in the Psittacidoean family has been a matter of much contention with authors, some of whom rank it with the Macaws, and others with the Conures; and probably no other member of the family, with the exception perhaps of the Grey Parrot and the Budgerigar, has occupied so much of the attention of writers, and can boast of so considerable a literature devoted exclusively to itself.

Audubon and Wilson, among American ornithologists, have filled many pages of their works with descriptions of this well-known and, on the whole, popular bird; while Prince Ch. Buonaparte, Wagler and Sir William Jardine have by no means failed in paying it attention. Bechstein and Buffon, amongst many others, have given long accounts of this bird in their writings, not to forget the great Linnaeus, who calls it Psittacus ludovicianus.

Jardine says: "In length it averages about fourteen inches; in extent of wings twenty-two inches; while the Rev. J. Wood alleges that "the total length of this species is twenty-one inches" - a very considerable difference; the truth lying as nearly as possible midway between the two extremes.

The appearance of the Carolina Conure is exceedingly pleasing, the rich emerald green of the upper plumage is relieved by the vividly orange red of the forehead and cheeks, while the rest of the head and neck are gamboge, and on the shoulder spots of orange red are intermixed with patches of golden yellow: the under surface of the body is yellowish green, and the outer webs of the primaries are bluish green, passing into bright yellow at the base. The inner webs are brown with green tips, the tail feathers are green with the inner webs tinged brownish red. The legs and feet are flesh colour, and the eyes light brown.

CAROLINA PARROT.

As authors disagree on the question of classification, so they are not in accord as to the merits, or demerits, of the species under consideration. Audubon observes: "the woods are best fitted for them, and there the richness of their plumage, their beautiful mode of flight, and even their screams, afford welcome intimation that our darkest forests and most sequestered swamps are not destitute of charms."

"On account of its inability to articulate, and its loud disagreeable screams, it is seldom kept caged", writes Selby in Jardine's Naturalist's Library; while Wilson delivers his verdict in favour of the bird, and, as the result of actual experiment, pronounces it to be "docile and sociable, soon becoming perfectly familiar, and capable of imitating the accents of man." Bechstein remarks that, "its cry is frequent, it is rather wicked, and does not speak; but it well makes up for this by its beauty, the elegance of its form, its graceful movements, and its strong and almost exclusive attachment to its mistress."

"Towards its own kind", says Wilson, "it displays the strongest affection, and if its companions be in danger, it hovers around the spot in loving sympathy."

"When engaged in feeding," continues the same author, "they are easily approached, and numbers killed by one discharge; the work of destruction, however, is not confined to a single shot, for the survivors rise, shriek, fly round for a few minutes, and again alight on the very place of the most imminent danger. The gun is kept at work; eight, ten, or even twenty are killed at every discharge; the living birds, as if conscious of the death of their companions, 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 of his ammunition."

Writing nearly half a century ago, Audubon observes, ."They could be obtained as far up the tributary waters of the Ohio as the great Kesshawa, the Sioto, the heads of the Miami, the mouth of the Mau-imee at its junction with lake Erie, on the Illinois river, and sometimes as far north-east as lake Ontario, and along the eastern districts as far as the boundary line between Virginia and Maryland. At the present day (about twenty-five years later) few are to be found higher than Cincinnati, nor is it until you reach the month of the Ohio that Parrakeets are met with in considerable numbers. I should think that along the Mississippi there is not now half the number that existed fifteen years ago."

There is no doubt that at the present day (1883-4) their flocks are still further reduced, and that one must travel much further south to find these beautiful but, to the farmer, destructive birds. Their strong attachment to their companions leads to their destruction too, as we gather from Wilson's experience. "Having shot down a number", he says, "some of which were only wounded, the whole flock swept repeatedly round their prostrate 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 round the place they again alighted near me, looking down on their slaughtered companions with such manifest symptoms of sympathy and concern as entirely disarmed me."

"I. could not but take notice", continues the same author, "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 sometimes in a straight line, but most usually circuitous, making a great variety of elegant and easy serpentine meanders as if for pleasure.

"They are particularly attached to the large sycamores, in the hollows 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 bill. They appear to be fond of sleep, and often retire to their holes during the day, probably to take a regular siesta. They are extremely sociable with and fond of each other, often scratching each other's heads and necks, and always at night nestling as close as possible to each other, preferring at that time a perpendicular position, supported by their beak and claws."

There are, perhaps, few members of the family more susceptible of domestication than the Carolina Parrakeets, providing, that is to say, they have been reared from the nest, or, at least, captured when quite young: adult specimens, however, will breed freely in a large aviary, or bird-room, if provided with suitable nesting accommodation. "A pair", says Dr. Russ, "bred in a small cage in my bird-room, and brought up three, and then five, young ones."

It is better, seeing they are such sociable birds, to keep several pairs together; the greatest difficulty being to distinguish the sexes; the female, however, has the inner webs of the first flight feathers black, and she has rather less of the orange-red markings of the head and face, that are so conspicuous a feature in the male.

The young are entirely green until after the first moult, when the head and face become yellow, and when in this immature state were supposed to belong to a different species, and are described as such by several writers. Latham supposed it to be identical with the Illinois Parrot (Psittacus pertinax, Auctorum); but this is a much smaller species found in South and Central America.

When first imported the Carolinas are generally very wild, but a little judicious handling will soon tame them, when their shrill screams will be much less frequently heard; for, like all the Psittacidoe, they give free vent to their feelings when alarmed; and, as they are naturally timid, the unknown excites their apprehensions, and their outcries are a natural sequence of their alarm.

These birds are excellent parents, as might indeed be gathered from the intense affection they display for each other, and brood and feed their young with the utmost care and attention.

They are to be fed on canary seed, millet, oats, maize, and breadcrumbs; and, if they are nesting, a portion of the seed should be prepared for them by soaking in cold water for a few hours.