EXTRACTS FROM AP ANONYMOUS JOURNAL. 63 



ANECDOTES OF GREY PARROTS. 



A Grey Parrot in possession of a medical man had 

 learnt to say, " open the door, and call the doctor," but 

 occasionally it reversed this order, and shouted out, 

 " open the doctor, and call the door." This clearly shews 

 that although it attached a certain meaning to the sen- 

 tence it used, the several words of which the sentence was 

 composed conveyed no idea to its mind. 



Once upon a time a lady of high rank had a bird of 

 this species. It was given to her by a man who had 

 for a long time lived in the East Indies. It could, there- 

 fore, talk only Dutch. In a short time, however, it learnt 

 both German and French, and these three languages it 

 spoke very distinctly. It had wonderful memory, besides 

 being very attentive, so that it often picked up expressions 

 which had never been used before //. When thirsty it 

 would say " Polly wants kluk kluk," meaning drink ; if 

 hungry " Polly wants something to eat." If food or 

 drink was not forthcoming, it exclaimed : " But Polly 

 must and will have something to eat !" 



The bird was not fond of strangers. Those who 

 came to hear it talk were generally disappointed, or had 

 to gratify their curiosity by hiding themselves before 

 their curiosity was gratified, It was, however, easy 

 to win over its confidence and affection by kind- 

 ness. The bird had a certain sense of humour. 

 Once a military man a Major whom the bird knew 

 well, visited it and introducing his walking stick inside 



