The Story of Jobo. 97 



Ho thorout^hly enjoys life and will j^lay lik.' a kiUen 

 for hour>. pullini^ himself about on his baek alon^ the bottoni 

 of his cage and playini^- with his toes or a piece of wood, 

 and then all of a (sudden he will catch hold and pull himself 

 up into his swing' where he will perform all sorts of acrobatic 

 fcats^such as swinging head down with his wings spread 

 out and screaming with delight — or holding on with one foot 

 while he plays with the other. During the past year I have 

 had to undergo two severe operations and spent many weeks 

 in bed Jobo has been my constant companion and helped 

 me through many a weary hour, for one could not be dull 

 with such a charming playmate. He has most amusing and 

 engaging ways and when his cage door was opened he would 

 climb carefully across the bed until he reached me when he 

 would snuggle down into my neck so that I could just kiss 

 the top of his head and stroke him gentlv on the back, and 

 he would remain thus as long as I chose to have him. 



He is not a great linguist, and has only learnt to say 

 two words — " Pretty " and " Winnie " — the latter being^ the 

 name of a Roseate Cockatoo that I am taking care of while 

 its owner is in I-'rance, and who at intervals during the day 

 calls out in a loud and penetrating voice — "'Winnie, Winni- 

 P'^g-" Jo^'^ hates him, and it is funhy to see this small bird. 

 " go for " the great pink thing whenever he gets a chance. 

 When Jobo is specially pleased to see me or very much 

 wants me to take him out of his cage he slightly opens and 

 quivers his wings showing the beautiful yellow-orange under- 

 neath, at the same time makingi a chirruping noise to attract 

 attention. 



Having written this little account of my Jobo, what 

 I should like to ask is: Are newly caught birds more easily 

 tamed than those that have been caged a feAv months — or was 

 it due to my stupidity that I failed so miserably and took so 

 long to tame my Senegal Parrot? 



