VOCAL LANGUAGE. 303 



two illustrative parrot biographies are all, however, that need 

 here be referred to. 



One of the best and most recent narratives showing the 

 wonderful power of appropriate remark in the grey parrot 

 was given in * Chambers's Journal ' in 1874, the animal 

 described belonging to a well-known photographer (Truefitt) 

 in that beautiful promenade of Edinburgh Princes Street. 

 The bird was * interviewed ' by a clergyman specially in order 

 to the publication of the results of his enquiry. To satisfy 

 myself of the perfect accuracy of the description given by 

 the journalist, of the authenticity of all the facts narrated, 

 I visited the parrot in the summer of 1875. It was then at 

 summer quarters with its master at Cramond, near Edin- 

 burgh. In addition to witnessing at great disadvantage, 

 however many of the animal's speaking performances, I 

 had full conversations with both its master and mistress ; 

 and the result is that I can substantially confirm the state- 

 ments of the reverend essayist who first brought its re- 

 markable linguistic attainments under public notice. 



Of this Truefitt parrot the following anecdotes are told : 

 Eoused from sleep by the one o'clock time-gun fired from 

 Edinburgh Castle, he would exclaim, c One o'clock ! one 

 o'clock ! Polly wants his dinner, Jeanie ! ' addressing the 

 housemaid. ' Lay the cloth ' the tablecloth repeating this 

 cry till the cloth was laid and the dinner duly set out. He 

 would originate, interrupt, and take part in man's conversa- 

 tion, some of his observations being 'quiet, grave, solemn, but 

 intensely satirical,' throwing in now and then a little French 

 or slang. He administered rebuke in very sharp tones, 

 that could not be misunderstood. He invited himself to sing ; 

 then, f coughing like a nervous young lady about to entertain 

 a party,' he sang verse after verse of different songs, each to 

 its appropriate tune, making himself the hero by ingeniously 

 substituting in the proper places his own name. He called 

 his master, but ordered the servant, obviously recognising 

 the difference in social status, made enquiries and uttered 

 exclamations, cajoled, scolded, and hurrahed, all in such a 

 way as to lead his interviewer to remark, ' What surprised 

 me most was the appropriateness of the bird's words to the 



