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Dr. A. G. Butler,



and very nervous subject. As it is, I have broken a tail feather,

a sacrifice which I would not willingly have made to please any¬

body, so I handle my birds no more yet awhile. I trust that

some other pen will describe the remaining two—or more, if

there are more—living examples now in this country.


The calls and cries are not identical with but are like to

those of the Rosy-faced species (A roseicollis), the accompanying

automaton-like flick of the tail being equally conspicuous when

the bird is excited.


It is a lively bright little fellow, and, although very nervous

after its terribly long journey, shews a disposition to be friendly

and even familiar.


I fear that it is a little bit inclined to be “ wicked” ; let us

hope that it is not quite so bad as A. ca?ia.


Reginald Phillipps.



THE MIND OF A BIRD.


By Dr. A. G. Butler.


Darwin has very justly remarked (Descent of Man, 2nd ed.

p. 114) “ It is a significant fact, that the more the habits of any

particular animal are studied by a naturalist, the more he attri¬

butes to reason and the less to unlearnt instincts.” I take it that

the chief difference between reason and instinct is that the first

quickly solves a difficulty and the second represents a solution

arrived at through the experience of numerous generations, and

inherited. An instance of the former was related to me many

years ago by the artist—Mr. George Ford : When with Sir

Andrew Smith in South Africa an experiment was tried with a

dog and a monkey, both chained up by a collar round the neck, in

a yard ; a bone was placed out of reach of the dog, and a plantain

(if I remember rightly) out of reach of the monkey ; the former

simply struggled against its collar and barked, when it could not

reach its bone ; but the monkey having run the length of its

chain, and finding the desired dainty still beyond its reach,

immediately turned round, adding the length of its body to the

chain, and grasped the food with its hind foot. On the other

hand instinct is represented by the manner in which birds of



