colours change considerably at different seasons; the head and breast are generally of a reddish hue, speckled with black. The wings and tail are a dark brown, the back a greenish yellow intermixed with spots of olive.

OF Parrots there are not less than a hundred and seventy kinds; they inhabit warm regions, and abound in Asia, the West Indies, and South America. There is but one species, the Carolina Parrot, which is a native of the United States.

The colours, forms, and sizes of these birds are various. Their plumage, however, is always brilliant and beautiful. Some of them are red, some green, and some of them are decked with a variety of gaudy hues.

Parrots are principally remarkable for possessing the power of articulating words in a very perfect manner. They can be taught to whistle and sing parts of tunes, and to repeat sentences containing several words. Instances have happened in which they have applied the words and sentences taught them so as to give them the appearance of a high degree of sagacity and intelligence.

Some years since, a Parrot in Boston, that had been taught to whistle in the manner of calling 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 passing the spot; the animal, imagining that he heard the call of his master, turned suddenly about and ran toward 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.

THE MACAWS

ARE the largest of the family of Parrots, and are preeminent for the splendour of their plumage. The Red and Blue Macaw, a native of Brazil and the West Indies, is a truly magnificent bird; the Red and Yellow Macaw, though inferior in size, is not so in brilliancy of colouring; the latter is very common in Cayenne and Surinam.

THERE are seventy kinds of Humming Birds, nearly all of them natives of America, yet only one kind visits the United States, where it is well known, as he frequents the gardens, and sips the honey from the honeysuckle and other plants, like the hive and humble bee. It is several times larger than the latter, but flies so swiftly as almost to elude the sight. Its wings when it is balancing over the flower, produce a humming sound which gives name to the bird. It is the smallest of the feathered race, and is

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one of the most beautiful in the elegance of its form, and the glossy brilliancy of its delicate plumage. Small as it is, however, it is exceedingly courageous, and has violent passions.

The length of this bird is three inches: it lives partly on honey obtained from flowers, but devours also great quantities of very small insects. The general colour is a rich golden green on the upper parts; the breast and neck are of a dusky white.

Its nest is very small, and is elegantly lined with the down of the mullein. It is covered on the outside with moss, to imitate the colour of the limb on which it is built.

THE BIRD OF PARADISE.

THE head of this bird is small, but adorned with very brilliant colours; the neck is of a fawn tint; the body is small, and covered with long feathers of a brownish hue, tinged with gold. The two middle feathers of the tail are but little more than a filament, except at the point near the

root.

It is an inhabitant of some of the Asiatic islands, and in its native clime is often seen sporting amid the luxuriant and spicy woods which characterise those favoured regions. The name of this gaudy inhabitant of the air is supposed to be given it by the sailors, who often observe it on the wing before the land is in view, and, regarding it as a signal that their voyage is nearly over, bestow upon it this complimentary title. Perhaps the uncommon beauty of the bird may have been taken into account, in giving it so flattering a designation.

THIS is the largest of birds, it being ten feet in height when it raises its head. Its legs are long; its wings short, and of no use in flying, but assist the animal in running. The neck is extremely long, and the head but little longer than one of its toes. It is a voracious eater, and will devour

leather, glass, iron, bread, and hair, as well as other food. It is sometimes domesticated, but it is usually found in a wild state. Flocks are seen in the plains of Asia and Africa.

The eggs of an Ostrich are about the size of an infant's head, sixty or seventy of them are deposited by different birds in a nest in the sand. A single pair of the Ostriches take charge of them, and the male and female take turns in sitting upon them till they are hatched. They leave them generally during the day, the heat of the sun being sufficient in the climates where they live. But at night, they are faithfully devoted to their charge. Several eggs are purposely left around the nest, which are designed for the first nourishment of the young Ostriches.

The Ostrich is hunted for its feathers, the surpassing beauty of which is well known. These feathers form the tail of the bird. The attachment of the Ostrich to its young, notwithstanding all that has been said to the contrary, seems to be equal to that of other animals. The following anecdote is related by Professor Thunberg. He once rode past the place where a hen Ostrich was sitting in her nest, when the bird sprang up, and pursued him, evidently with a view to prevent his noticing her eggs or young. Every time he turned his horse towards her she retreated ten or twelve paces; but as soon as he rode again she pursued him, till he had got to a considerable distance from the place where he had started her.