1 1 o PEA THERED FRIENDS. 



"Grippa" could only be let out when I or someone else 

 was by to watch her. 



She did not object to the transfer, and as I had 

 arranged various perches for her convenience in the 

 summer-house she soon gained the highest of them by 

 hopping up to it from the lowest, and when she had 

 mounted as high as she could she turned round to 

 have a look at me, croaking at the same time in order 

 to remind me that some hours had elapsed since she 

 had had her breakfast. 



I went and fetched her some scraps of meat, which 

 she caught very cleverly in her bill as I threw them 

 at her from the open door of her new abode, and after 

 a while whenever she saw me coming she would spread 

 out her wings and tail and ruffle the feathers of her 

 head and neck, dance in the most absurdly grotesque 

 fashion on her perch, and, generally, comport herself 

 in such an idiotic manner, that I used to say to her: 

 "You are an ugly old brute!" 



She soon caught up this expression, and would 

 repeat it to all and sundry who went to have a peep 

 at her. As far as the members of the family were 

 concerned, that did not matter, for they knew what it 

 meant, and if she said it before a stranger in my 

 presence I could explain; but unfortunately one day 

 an elderly lady, of not the most angelic appearance, 

 which was by no means her fault, but her misfortune, 

 went alone to have a peep at the wonderful bird of 



