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Mr. Douglas R. Urwick,



his own feathers, and became hideous. So he had to go. This was

sad for many reasons : it used to be told me that a Raven would

live for one hundred years ; and I have lost my chance of proving

this. But he was somewhat tiresome in a small London garden.

There was a feeling of relief all through the establishment, especially

the feathered part of it, on his departure. A friend, who I knew

would be kind to him, took him off my hands. He wrote afterwards

(I quote only a portion of what he said):—“ The Raven is a most

remarkable bird! I never heard a Parrot talk as he does, it is really

startling. My daughter went out into the garden the other day

thinking I had called her! it was Grippo ! He calls all the children

by name, tells them to ‘ get out ’ or ‘ come along.’ ‘ Hurry up Joey ’

is another expression he has picked up. He often causes our cook

to run out by calling, ‘ Anne, come here, I want you,’ in my

daughter’s voice. He is an extraordinary creature.” So you see

Grip’s lessons were not thrown away upon him ; and his habit of

paying attention to what he hears has become a life-habit. A Raven

is a capital pet where there is plenty of accommodation. Grip

would allow me to kiss, and stroke, and fondle him as any dog might

do. With gentleness and firmness, a Raven may be kept in order

without difficulty—if you are not afraid of him.



AN AVICULTURIST IN PORTUGAL.


By Douglas R. Urwick.


Business took me to Portugal for the best fifteen years of my

life, during which time I never met a Portuguese who cared for

or knew anything of aviculture, though I was on friendly terms

with many, and right good fellows amongst them.


Yet the annual Bird Show at the Crystal Palace at Oporto

was always packed during the three days of its life, the exhibits

being nearly entirely poultry and pigeons, plus a few ornamental

waterfowl and some fine parrots of various sorts, and last, but not

least, a few crowded cages of foreigners from a dealer in Lisbon ; I

believe the only one in Portugal except for the usual market sheds of

indigenous birds and Canaries.



