232 



work will allow, but would, in a great measure, be only repeating wbat has already 

 so frequently been told in the works and compilations of other writers. We shall 

 only observe, that in many of the marvellous stories recorded of Parrots, particu- 

 larly all such as relate to answers seemingly appropriate and consequent to ques- 

 tions put to them, and which some authors would almost seem to imply were dic- 

 tated by intelligence, or that the birds really understood the import of what was 

 asked, are merely the result, under accidental and fortunate circumstances, of what 

 had previously been taught them by frequent repetition, to articulate by rote." 

 —pp. 106—7. 



To the latter part of this dictum we cannot altogether subscribe, feeling confi- 

 dent that in various instances, Parrots have " intelligence" enough to understand, 

 if not the exact meaning of the words they utter, the subject to which they refer. 

 We know an old lady, whose feet were so excessively tender, as almost to preclude 

 her from walking, and hence she always went abroad in her Bath chair. She had 

 a favourite Parrot, who when the tea equipage was placed upon the table, was in- 

 variably taken out of his cage by the footman, and placed on the board, as a pro- 

 per accompaniment to the antiquated china. Poll, no doubt an attentive observer, 

 had long perceived there was " something rotten in the state of Denmark," and 

 hence, whenever his mistress failed to dole out what he considered his fair ration, 

 he would, in a threatening manner, exclaim — " Peclc your toes, Madam." As he 

 sometimes flew down from his position to put this threat into execution, the old 

 lady, to avoid the assault upon her toes, indulged him with a further allowance, 

 which, of course, only led to increased insolence on his part, and the threat of 

 " Peck your toes, Madam" was still oftener reiterated. At length, one day Poll 

 having cried " Wolf," as he thought, without that attention being paid to the sub- 

 ject which it demanded, proceeded to suit the action to the word with such effect, 

 that the old lady was compelled to scream loudly for help ; Poll having adminis- 

 tered a dose of toe-pecking that put her in dreadful pain for some days. This was 

 too much to be borne, and the culprit received sentence of transportation. The 

 footman was directed to sell or give him away, — and what afterwards became of 

 of him, we never learned. Now, though in this case we think it highly probable, 

 that the mischievous threat had been taught the bird by the servants, yet Poll 

 must have seen the effect it produced in occasionally increasing his allowance, 

 though, doubtless, he did not calculate upon the final denouement. But we must 

 not allow old Grey-pate to detain our attention any longer. We have referred to 

 his figure as admirably executed, and the singular crested Plyctolophus Leadbeateri, 

 and the beautiful Platycercus palliceps, are also charmingly done. The back- 

 ground landscapes are certainly a set-off to the picture ; and though omitted in the 

 plates of the Pigeons, will, we trust, in future be adhered to. The vignettes to 

 each volume are very tasteful — the last particularly so, representing the tri-colour 

 crested and love Parrots, by Stewart. 



