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Rev. H. P. Edge,



“There is one question with which I am invariably confronted, after

chronicling their habits, and it is this — 1 Don’t the other birds molest them

when they are out of doors?’ When first they were at liberty, they w’ere

often pursued by Starlings, Chaffinches, and, of course, Sparrows, although

their most persistent persecutors were a pair of Barbary Doves, which bred in

the fir trees, but now not a single bird resents their introduction to North

Hants. Nay, some of the song birds, such as Blackbirds and others, such as

Starlings, offer them distinct adulation; if it be that ‘ imitation is the

sincerest flattery.’ I have heard a Starling imitate their cries to such a

nicety that, for a moment, I have been deceived. A Blackbird last year

imitated them, too, with such good effedt that both the cottagers and

the children observed the fact. All birds imitate more or less and I think

that ornithologists will agree with me when I say that Thrushes, for

instance, in districts where the Nightingale abounds, catch, to a large

extent, the notes of that songster, and that hence the song of a Hampshire

Thrush is possessed of greater volume and sweetness than that of a

Lancashire Thrush.


“ These Parrots of mine readily make friends with those for whom I

have affection, and as readily avoid those whom I don’t care about. For

some they have a distinct aversion. I know of one lad in particular whom

they can’t abide at any price. Directly he appears they set up a discordant

note, and flee away, terrified. Strange to say, my two dogs can’t endure

him either.


“ ‘Jack’ and ‘Jill’—for those are their names—though strangely

enough I never address them by their names—have little or no fear. For

cats they have the most supreme contempt. I once saw them feeding off a

plate on the lawn with three cats, and, when probably those quadrupeds

displayed a vulgar greed, drive them all away.


“ I have two of the finest bull terriers in England—a dog and a

bitch—‘ Bill’ and ‘ Loo.’ Both these Parrots have a fond admiration for ‘ Bill,’

They will fly’ on to his back—which is permitted, but when they proceed to

examine his toes, ‘Bill’ is a little resentful. By the w ay, ‘Bill’ is very

jealous of them.


“ These birds may be said never to appear to better advantage than

when rollicking in an apple or gambolling in a plum tree at the beginning

of September, but the spectacle ‘ after the feast ’ is such as to evoke strong

language from even the most pious and patient of gardeners. Not content

with my own apple trees, like children, they ‘ think everybody else’s bread

is better than their own,’ and persist in paying flying visits to all the

orchards round, and devouring, or rather wasting the fruit. It speaks

volumes for the kind forbearance of my neighbours when I add that never

yet have they been ill-treated, and but seldom interfered with. The

question of acclimatization, therefore, is an open one. They are delightful



