184 STAMPING HIS FEET. 



and made a low, complaining cry, plainly a pro- 

 test against so unnatural a chair ; and again, 

 when he scolded at the rain that came in sudden 

 gusts against the window, or charged furiously 

 at the crack under a door when he heard sweep- 

 ing outside. In general he is very quiet when 

 one is in the room, but the moment the door 

 closes behind the last person his voice is heard, 

 — whistling exactly like a boy, calling, squawk- 

 ing, and occasionally uttering a sweet, though 

 not loud song, which is varied by a sound like 

 rubbing a cork against glass. The most quiet 

 approach silences him. When under strong 

 emotion he may squawk or scream before spec- 

 tators, but he never whistles or sings when he 

 knows any one is in the room. When out of 

 his sight and so long silent that he has forgotten 

 me, I have now and then heard the song. 



The funniest thing this knowing fellow does 

 is to stamp his feet, and it is a genuine expres- 

 sion of impatience or displeasure. When I take 

 something away from him or he thinks I mean 

 to do so, or refuse him something he wants, he 

 stands still and jerks his feet in such a way that 

 they stamp with a loud sound, as if they wjre 

 of iron. It is very droll. In serious anger, he 

 adds to this, bowing and curtsying by bending 

 the legs, snapping the bill, pecking, and jump- 

 ing up with the body without lifting the feet. 



