354 Animal Life and Intelligence. 



our arrival in Bristol, a black-and-white cat belonging to 

 the people formerly living here frequented the house. The 

 parrot seemed delighted to see this cat, which was larger 

 than our old cat, and called it Dem, as she had been 

 accustomed to do in London. From that time until the 

 commencement of January (1890), which was over a year, 

 the parrot had not seen a cat that we are aware of, nor 

 had we heard her call it for a long time. About six weeks 

 ago, as I was coming along Kingsdown Parade, a large 

 black kitten followed me home. We took it in and fed it. 

 The next day it came into the room where the parrot was, 

 and she immediately said ' Puss ! puss ! puss ! Hullo, 

 dear ! ' and during the day called it by the same name, 

 ' Dem ! Dem ! Dem ! ' that she had called our cat in 

 London." 



We may here notice that, in most of the tricks which 

 animals are taught to perform, the action is suggested by 

 a form of words (or the tone and manner in which they 

 are uttered). Mr. John G. Naish, J.P., of Ilfracombe,* 

 has taught his cockatoo the following trick (I quote Mr. 

 Naish's own words) : " I give him a shilling, which he puts 

 into the slit of a money-box. This is ' enlisting.' After 

 that, I say to him, ' Will you die for the queen, like a loyal 

 soldier ? ' Then he lies on his back, with his paws together, 

 for as long as I hold up my finger. ' Now live for your 

 master ! ' He takes hold of my finger and resumes his 

 erect posture. Last year I took him into the street near 

 my house, and collected on our ' Hospital Saturday.' He 

 worked for more than an hour before he became impatient. 

 And then he would do no more, but, flung the coins over 

 his head or at the giver in the funniest way. He went to 

 sleep for a long time after that performance ; and when he 

 awoke and I took him, he covered my face with kisses, as 

 if he was glad to find his bad dream was over." The 

 weariness and failure to perform the trick when tired, and 

 the long sleep which succeeded, are interesting points. 



* I have to thank this gentleman for a most interesting account of the 

 intelligence of his favourite bird. 



