2d8 The Hoary Parrot. 



and inward reflection on what it had been taught, ' and this,' 

 says he, ' through emulation and the love of glory.' The love 

 of the marvellous must have had mighty influence ujDon this phi- 

 losopher, to make him advance such absurdities. Its attention 

 is engaged even in sleep, and, -according to Marcgrave, it prattles 

 in its dreams, which caused Aristotle to inquire whether animals 

 hatched from eggs ever dream .'' Marcgrave answered, that, 

 'his parrot, Laura, often rose in the night and prattled half asleep.' 

 Parrots are most capable of improvement when young ; then they 

 show more sagacity, more docility ; and their memory, if early 

 cultivated, sometimes becomes astonishing. Rhodiginus men- 

 tions a parrot which a Cardinal purchased for 100 crowns, because 

 It recited correctly the Apostles' creed. And M. de la Borde 

 tells us that he saw one which served as almoner on board of a 

 vessel ; it recited the sailor's prayer, then the rosary. But when 

 it grows older, it becomes stubborn, and will hardly be taught. 

 Olina recommends the evening, after their meal, as the proper 

 time to instruct them ; for their wants being satisfied, they are 

 then more docile and attentive. 



The education of the parrot has been compared to that of a child. 

 At Rome, a person who trained a parrot held in his hand a small 

 rod, with which he struck it on the head. Pliny says that its 

 skull is very hard, and that it requires smart blows to make it feel. 

 However, the bird to which we allude feared the rod more than 

 a child, that had been often whipped. If after remaining perched 

 all day, it anticipated the hour of walking out into the garden, and 

 descended too soon (which seldom happened) threats and the 

 sight of the rod drove it with precipitation to its roost ; there it 

 continued, but showed its impatience by flapping its wings and 

 screaming. 



Parrots of this kind not only imitate discourse, but they mimic 

 gestures and actions. Scaliger saw one that performed the dance 

 of the Savoyards, at the same time repeating their song. One 

 mentioned by Madame Nadault, was pleased to hear a person 

 sing, and, when it saw him dance, it also tried to caper, but with 

 the worst grace imaginable, holding in its toes, and tumbling back 

 clumsily. It was then the most cheerful ; but it had also an ex- 

 travagant joy, and an incessant prattling when in the state of in- 

 toxication ; for all parrots love wine, particularly the Spanish and 

 the muscadine. Even in the time of Pliny it was remarked that the 

 fumes of that liquor gave the parrots a flow of spirits. It crept 

 near the fire in winter, and its greatest pleasure, in that season, 

 was to get on the chimney ; and when warmed it gave many signs 

 of its comfortable feelings. It had equal pleasure in the summer 



