62 HOURS WITH NATURE* 



Any trifling service that we were able to render to 

 her darling son has been a great deal more than 

 repaid, by the pure friendship of Tom, which we have 

 since enjoyed, and by her own letters, conveying warmest 

 sentiments of affection and good will towards us. Apart* 

 however, from their intrinsic worth, which is much, the 

 gifts are valuable to us for another reason. They afe 

 unmistakable proofs of the good understanding which has 

 gradually developed between individuals Of two races 

 who are unfortunately always prone to misunderstand 

 one another. I value the gift much, as it is accompanied 

 by an elaborate note on the natural history of Grey 

 Parrots, which Tom has taken the trouble of drawing 

 Up with the help of Dr. Mereweather for my information* 



THE GREY PARROT.* 



It is a beautiful bird. The general colour of the 

 plumage is pearl grey ; the feathers of the head, neck, and 

 belly have lighter margins. The colour of the tail feat- 

 thers is bright red ; the beak black or dark grey ; the legs 

 ashy. The male and female are almost alike. The Grey 

 Parrot learns to talk well ; the male, it is said is usually 

 the more fluent talker than the female, but the few words 

 the latter learns are pronounced with great distinctness. 

 It is evident from the various anecdotes current about 

 this bird that it is endowed with a large amount of 

 intelligence. 



* Complied by Thomas Perwinkle, with the help of Dr. Mereweather, froiw 

 Gen's Parrots in Captivity. 



