THE ROSE COCKATOO. 



I look like a foreigner, don't 

 I ? You may search through 

 the forests of America and you 

 won't find a bird that looks like 



My family live in New Guinea; 

 we speak English when we get 

 among English people, Spanish 

 when we get among Spanish 

 people, and French when we get 

 among French people. 



If you don't believe it, just say 

 " Parlez-vous Francais, Monsieur ? " 

 and see how quickly I'll open 

 my pretty mouth and answer 



If you don't understand that, 

 ask your teacher what it means. 

 I once lived in a French family, 

 you see. 



You don't think my mouth is 

 pretty, did you say ? Well, that 

 is according to taste. I think it 

 is. Of course, my bill turns in 

 like a hook, as Miss Poll Parrot's 

 does, and my tongue is thick 

 like hers, but I fancy I talk much 

 plainer than she does. Anyway 

 I talk louder. Why, if you 

 should happen to hear, without 



seeing me, you would think it 

 was a man's strong voice talking 

 to a deaf person. 



And then my laugh ! You 

 should hear me laugh when I'm 

 angry. Whew ! Have you ever 

 heard a hyena in the Zoo ? Well, 

 it sounds something like that. 



I am a large, handsome bird. 

 My eyes also are large, and so 

 are my feet. That is the reason 

 I not only talk, but walk Spanish, 

 I suppose. 



But, my cap ! That is what 

 distinguishes me. You never 

 saw a common Parrot with a 

 crest like that. When I am 

 angry the feathers stand straight 

 up, opening and closing just like 

 a lady's fan. 



The next time your mamma or 

 papa takes you to the Zoo, turn 

 to the cage of foreign birds and 

 see if one of our family is not 

 there. Maybe he will talk to 

 you and maybe he'll not. He 

 would if you could get into his 

 cage and stroke his head. I am 

 sure he would laugh if you tell 

 him Mr. Eose Cockatoo sends his 

 love. 



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