24 TALKS ABOUT BIRDS 



was one of the common green parrakeets of 

 that country, which had been brought to 

 England by the gentleman who showed it 

 to me. It did not talk at all, but its tricks 

 were almost more than one could have be- 

 lieved without seeing them done, as I did, for 

 it was put through a performance for my 

 benefit. It began by twirling the fire-stick ; 

 then a little model of a native temple was put 

 on the table, and the bird, at the word of 

 command, rang the bell for service, pulled up 

 a bucket for holy water, and placed flowers 

 on the altar before the idols. On the altar 

 it also placed a shilling, and a small watch of 

 its master's, when this was given to it. But 

 it was more wonderful to see it shoot an 

 arrow from a bow ; the bow was fastened on 

 a stand, and the bird put on a perch opposite 

 it. Then, when the arrow was given to it, it 

 fitted the notch of it on the string, pulled the 

 string, and shot the arrow off. 



It also threaded beads, by means of a 

 needle which had been cut down to about 

 a quarter of an inch from the eye. It took 

 this in its bill, and picked up the beads in its 

 bill too, one by one, threading them I sup- 



