PARROTS. 35 



THE JAKO. 



The Grey Parrot exhibits only two colours in its plumage. The tail is of a deep Cinnabar 

 red, and all the other feathers are ash-grey or greyish blue, bordered with a lighter shade ; near the 

 head and neck the light borders of the feathers are somewhat wider than elsewhere. The beak is 

 black, the eyes light brown, the bare places round the latter of a whitish colour. The male and 

 female do not differ in hue, and but little in size, the male being the largest ; its average measurement 

 is twelve inches in length and twenty-five inches across the wings, the tail three inches and a half, the 

 wing from shoulder to tip eight inches and a half ; when folded, the wing extends some lines beyond 

 the tail. 



Very little is known of these birds in their wild state, although they are brought to Europe in far 

 greater numbers than any other species. We learn from Heuglin that the habitat of the Jako extends 

 from the western coast of Africa, deep into the heart of that continent, and reliable naturalists have 

 seen it in great numbers in Wan and Bongo, up to 8° north latitude. It does not appear to penetrate 

 further east, and is quite unknown in eastern Soudan ; how far north and south it is found is at 

 present doubtful. It is worthy of remark that these birds were not many years ago imported from 

 Guinea to Madagascar, where they became naturalised and increased so rapidly, diat at the com- 

 mencement of the eighteenth century their numbers rendered them a perfect scourge to the inhabitants 

 of the island of Bourbon and the Mauritius. The Grey parrot is one of the most highly-prized 

 of our domestic favourites, and well merits the esteem in which it is held. Its praises have been 

 sung in all languages, and every work on natural history relates some anecdotes of its surprising 

 cleverness. 



Perhaps the most celebrated of the species is one which lived for many years in Vienna and 

 Salzburg, and luckily found an exact and industrious observer of its performances. 



The Count Courcy Droitaumont was the first who, in the year 1835, in Oken's " Isis," gave us 

 such particulars of its attainments as awakened astonishment in all quarters. This account has been 

 attested by the late possessor of the parrot, President Kleimayrn, at the wish of Lenz, who afterwards 

 published the following narrative : — " Jako noticed and criticised everything that passed before him, 

 gave the proper answer to a question, did as he was bidden, saluted people who entered the room, and 

 made his adieux to those who were taking leave ; he wished you good morning and good night at the 

 proper times, and asked for food when he was hungry. 



" He called all the members of the family by name, and preferred some of them to others ; if he 

 wanted me (his master), he called out ' Papa, come here,' and whatever he said, sang, or whistled, was 

 done as a human being would do it. There were times when he seemed inspired like an improvisatore ; 

 his voice then sounded like that of a speaker heard from a distance, when too far off to enable you 

 to understand the words. 



"Sometimes he would be marvellously polite — 'Good morning, reverend sir!' 'An almond, if 

 you please, reverend sir!' 'Do you want an almond?' 'Should you like a nut?' 'Shall I have 

 some food soon ?' ' Have you got something ?' Occasionally he would threaten — ' Be off, you rascal ; 

 are you going home or not?' ' Be off, you thief, or wait till I come !' ' You idiot !' 'You clown !' 

 At times he was self-complacent — ' Good little prattler !' ' You are an excellent little parrot !' 

 ' Take time, neighbour, take time !' &c. If any one knocked at the door he would call very 

 loudly and distinctly (just like a man) ' Come in ! Come in, Herr B. !' 'What orders have you?' 

 'I am your humble servant!' 'lam delighted to have the honour! quite delighted to have the 

 honour !' Or he would tap on his cage and say the above to himself. 



" He could imitate the cuckoo excellently. Occasionally his conversation was rather discursive. 



