THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 365 
antics are immensely entertaining. He utters frequently, and loudly, 
a harsh, grating note, mingled with a soft, agreeable whistle. Being 
somewhat of a musician, he has learnt to strike the wires of the 
cage with the under mandible, and to grate and whistle at the same 
time, and this is an extremely clever performance. The effect is that 
of two, or even three birds chattering, whistling, and harping 
together, so intermixed and seemingly simultaneous are the sounds. 
At times, it abandons the grating note, and then treats us to a suc- 
cession of soft notes in the minor, accompanied with the harp, and at 
regular intervals, forming a cadence by a prolonged note resembling 
the final of the siskin, but louder and fuller, and more prolonged. 
In all these performances, which are sometimes elegant, and always 
amusing, it is entirely self-taught; but there is so much method in 
its manner, that if I were to take credit for having taught it to make 
itself pleasingly ridiculous, I should be readily believed, except, of 
course, by persons acquainted with the habits of the pretty creature. 
In common with nine-tenths of all the parrots known, the 
Tabuan Parrot thrives on canary seed, but will eat millet and hemp 
for a change; although the less it has of the latter the better. Itis 
commonly reported that parrots of all kinds are partial to fruit, but I 
have not found them so. But this parrot is a genuine fruit-eater, 
and greedily devours cherries, currants, raspberries, and, indeed, any 
kind of fruit, but prefers cherries and currants to any. Some years 
ago, a Tabuan Parrot of mine escaped from its cage, and for some 
time dwelt in the garden, flying from tree to tree, and at times 
circling high in the air and screaming with delight. It happened to 
be late in the summer, and all our currants had been gathered for 
jam-making ; but near at hand was a neighbour's garden in which 
the fruit still hung upon the bushes in enormous quantities. The 
roaming fruit-eater soon discovered the land of plenty, and very soon 
wrought tremendous havoc. It would begin at dawn to strip the 
trees, and through the day, at every opportunity, it proceeded with 
the mischief. In the course of a few days, it had pulled and strewn 
on the ground bushels of fruit, which, of course, were comparatively 
worthless. My neighbour invited me to see the havoc, and I was 
not less astonished than pained ; but a greater astonishment followed, 
for the lady who had lost her fruit called upon me to have the bird 
shot that there might be an end to such mischief. I could only say 
that I hoped to capture the bird, that I would more than make good 
the fruit that had been wasted, the actual value of which, after all, 
was but atrifle; but that to give orders for the shooting of my 
happy pet was more than I could do; I could only regret I was 
powerless to prevent any one else shooting it. In the course of a 
few days after this, the fugitive was captured, having an hour or two 
previously had a feast of peas, which it had plucked and scattered in 
the same way as the currants, so that the ground was covered with 
them. 
In respect of teaching, there is not much hope for the Tabuan 
Parrot. It may be taught a few distinct notes in whistling, but 
seems incapable of words, and indeed is not attentive to lessons. 
But it soon learns to know and love those who are kind to it, and 
Decemb . 
