94 LOVE S MEINIE. 



only a small part of the creature's nature which 

 is told by its scientific name of 'Scansor/ or 

 * Climber.' That it only clutches with its 

 claws, and does not snatch or strike with 

 them; — that it helps itself about with its 

 beak, on branches, or bars of cage, in an 

 absurd manner, as if partly imagining itself 

 hung up in a larder, are by no means the 

 most vital matters about the bird. Whereas, 

 that its beak is always extremely short, and 

 is bent down so roundly that the angriest 

 parrot cannot peck, but only bite^ if you give 

 it a chance; that it can bite, pinch, or other- 

 wise apply the mechanism of a pair of nut- 

 crackers from the back of its head, with effect ; 

 that it has a little black tongue capable of 

 much talk ; above all, that it is mostly gay in 

 plumage, often to vulgarity, and always to 

 pertness ; — all these characters should surely 

 be represented to the apprehensive juvenile 

 mind, in sum ; and not merely the bird's 

 climbing qualities. 



83. Again, that the race of birds called in 

 Latin ' Rasores ' do^ in the search for their 

 food, usually scratch, and kick out their legs 

 behind, living for the most part in gravelly 



