THE Parrot, of which there are many species, is said to have been first introduced into Europe by Alexander the Great. Of the foreign birds it is the one with which we are best acquainted, and is likewise one of the most beautiful of the feathered race, its plumage being exceedingly varied, and of the most vivid hues. But its chief attraction is to be found in its ability to utter articulate sounds, a gift which it possesses in far greater perfection than any other bird. Its voice also is more like a man's than any other; the raven is too hoarse, and the jay and magpie too shrill to resemble the truth: but the Parrot's note is of the true pitch, and capable of a variety of modulations. For this it is indebted to the form of its bill, tongue, and head. "Its bill, round on the outside and hollow within, has in some degree, the capacity of a mouth, and allows the tongue to play freely; and the sound, striking against the circular border of the lower mandible, is there modified as on a row of teeth, while the concavity of the upper mandible reflects it like a palate:

hence the animal does not utter a whistling sound, but a full articulation. The tongue, which modulates all sounds, is proportionably larger than in man; and would be more voluble, were it not harder than flesh, and invested with a strong horny membrane." In addition to the talent of speech, the Parrot is endowed with a strong memory, and with more sagacity than is the lot of most other birds.

In their native woods these birds live together in flocks, and generally breed in hollow trees, where they make a round hole for the accommodation of their young; but do not take the trouble of lining it within. The female lays two or three eggs, about the size of those of a pigeon, and marked with little specks. The natives are very assiduous in seeking out their nests, and usually take them by cutting down the tree. By this means, indeed, the young Parrots are liable to be killed; but if one of them survive it is considered as a sufficient recompense.-The old ones are shot with heavy arrows headed with cotton, which knock them down without killing them.

The facility with which the Parrot is taught to speak, and the great number of sentences it is capable of repeating, are equally surprising.-But its agreeable qualities are counterbalanced by the mischievous inclination it has to gnaw whatever it can reach.

The food commonly given to these birds, consists of hemp seed, nuts, fruits of every kind, and bread soaked in wine; they would prefer meat, but that kind of aliment has been found to make them dull and heavy, and to cause their feathers to drop off after some time. It has been observed, that they keep their food in a kind of pouch, from which they afterwards throw it up in the same manner as ruminating animals.

THIS bird has a longer tail than the Common Parrot, and is less in size. It also speaks with less facility, and is even more easily tamed. The handsomest species is the RING PARROQUET, which has a red circle encompassing the back of the neck, and ending under the lower chap of the bill. Its head and body are green, but of a fainter hue on the neck, breast, and whole of the under side; the belly being of so slight a green as to seem almost yellow.

adorned with a crest of long feathers, which is capable of being erected or lowered at pleasure, and gives the bird a strikingly fine appearance. His plumage is white; the inside feathers of the crest are of a pleasing yellow colour; and his beak is round and crooked. It is a native of the Molucca Islands and other parts of the East Indies, where it is frequently known to build on the tops of houses. Like the rest of the parrot kind, it is capable of uttering sea phrases and sentences, with equal propriety of tone and volubility. It derives its name from its frequent repetition of the syllables Cockatoo.

THE length of this bird is twelve inches, and the breadth nineteen. The bill is above two inches long, black, slender, and somewhat curved; the tongue very short and triangular; the eyes are hazel; the head is ornamented with a crest, consisting of a double row of feathers, of a pale orange colour, tipped with black, the highest about two inches in length;

this, which reaches from the bill to the top of the neck, the animal can raise or let fall at pleasure; the neck is of a pale reddish brown; the breast and belly are white, and, in the young ones, are marked with various dusky lines, pointing downwards; the back, scapular, and wings, are crossed with broad bars of black and white; the lesser coverts of the wings, light brown; the rump is white; the tail consists of ten feathers, each marked white, which, when closed, assume the form of a crescent, the horns pointing downwards: the legs are short and black. There is only one species of this bird found in this kingdom, and even that is not very common, being seen only at uncertain periods.

The female is said to have two or three broods in the year: she makes no nest, but lays her eggs in the hollow of a tree, and sometimes in a hole in a wall, or even on the ground. It is a solitary bird, two of them being seldom found together, and, indeed, is not often seen even singly in this country. In Egypt, where they are very common, they are seen only in small flocks.

INDIAN BEE-EATER.

THE Indian Bee-eater, is about the size of a common blackbird. Its bill is nearly two inches long, and its eyes are of a fine red; on each side of the head extends a black stroke, which begins at the corners of the mouth, and passes beyond the eyes. The base of the upper chap, and under the chin, is covered with bright pale blue feathers; the upper and back part of the head are of a dusky yellow; the back and wings of the same colour, only shaded pretty strongly with a green; the tips of the quill feathers brown, the breast and belly green; the thighs and under part near the vent, of a pale yellow, with a small green