266 PARROTS. 



boat ! a boat ! twenty pounds for a boat !" 

 A greedy waterman hearing this, hastily 

 took up the bird and bearing it to the 

 king, demanded the exorbitant sum the 

 frightened bird had promised for its de- 

 liverance; a sum which was then much 

 more valuable than now. The astonished 

 monarch refused compliance, but agreed 

 to leave the matter to the bird, who, upon 

 being asked what the ferryman should 

 have, instantly replied, "Give the knave a 

 groat!" 



Locke, in his excellent and unequalled 

 "Essay upon Human Understanding," 

 gives another instance of an educated and 

 almost rational Parrot, whose powers 

 were certainly of an astonishing character. 

 This bird's reputation had become so 

 great, that the then Regent of Brazil, 

 Prince Maurice, with his suite, visited the 

 bird in his apartment to witness the 

 powers so widely circulated with praise 

 by the neighbours of the owner. The 

 Parrot sat for a short time, silently sur- 



