CORNISH HUMOUR 175 



parrots and admired and respected them because they 

 were nearest to our noble selves in intelligence, and that 

 I had never seen a finer grey parrot than this one. 

 He was silent with me : that was the parrot's way ; 

 he was like a wise man, very still and very observant 

 of a stranger in the house ; he would watch and 

 listen to know what the strange person was like 

 before declaring himself. 



The old man did not smile nor speak but got up, 

 went to the cage, and taking the bird on his hand 

 returned to his seat. Then began a lively game 

 between the two : the parrot climbed over and about 

 the man, was snatched up and tossed as a mother 

 tosses her babe, and finally deposited on the big bald 

 head from which the skull-cap had been removed. 

 The parrot rubbed his feathered head over the 

 shining pate and wiped his beak on it. Then followed 

 a fight with lightning-quick thrust and parry, a finger 

 and a beak for weapons, after which the bird was 

 snatched up and popped, back down, on the table. 

 There he remained some time, perfectly still, his feet 

 stuck up in the air, but not pretending to be dead, 

 for the brilliant white eyes were wide open, keenly 

 watching us all the time. Finally the bird twisted his 

 head round, and using his beak as a lever turned 

 over on his feet, and was invited to kiss and be 

 friends. This the bird did, pushing his way with 

 careful deliberation through the cloud of beard so as 

 to plant his kisses on the lips. 



During the performance I could not help remark- 

 ing a singular resemblance between man and bird : 



