1602 Reptiles. 



bread, and ants' eggs were its food, upon which it thrived. It soon showed it liked to 

 be always with me, and was perfectly happy in my lap ; or when I have been painting, 

 it would sit on my left arm, dressing itself, or sleeping in entire security. When it 

 outgrew the flannel and I could no longer leave it pinned up, I used to take it into my 

 mother's room, and if it could lie on her gown at her feet, it was contented, butwas always 

 on the watch for my coming back, and on seeing me, would jump up, and run to meet 

 me. It was now so tame and pleased with being fondled, as to excite much astonish- 

 ment. My mother soon beeame very fond of it, and by degrees it was more with her 

 than with me. Its cage was never inhabited ; it would never sleep in confinement, 

 therefore was awake, and quite alive all the evening, being either in lap or on the sofa. 

 When he had changed his feathers, and attained his full plumage, he refused to be 

 handled, but his habits were just as sociable as before. His knowledge of every one 

 was most extraordinary ; his likings, and dislikings were very strong ; and he was so 

 curious and observant, that no piece of furniture could be moved without his findiug 

 it out, and if the carpet was not smooth, he would set to work instantly to render it so, 

 by scratching and pecking. He was very fond of gay colours, and no new gown or 

 cap could be put on without catching his attention. He never offered to go up stairs 

 or down, and very rarely used his wings. On being gently chastised when he did. fly, 

 he would run and hide himself like a child, as if he knew he had done wrong. A box 

 of earth was given him to rub in, which he thoroughly enjoyed. His feathers were 

 always glossy, and in the most perfect order, which I attribute to his always having 

 plenty of green food, such as grass and clover cut small. In the winter he liked wheat, 

 but rarely touched it in the summer ; was very fond of sugar and cake ; drank very 

 little water, and liked his food dry. He never forgot any one he had made acquaint- 

 ance with, and the return of any of the family after many months absence, caused him 

 so much joy and excitement, that I have been compelled to shut him up. He would 

 distinguish the voices, even before they got out of the carriage. His partiality for my 

 mother was very great, and if she was asleep, nothing would tempt him to quit her; 

 but he never liked her to be in the drawing room. In the evening he always came 

 into the drawing room, and remained till we retired. He slept at my bed-side, and 

 never disturbed me, nor got up himself, till I was called ; and then he had a particu- 

 lar call if he fancied I was gone to sleep again. Once from being frightened, he flew 

 out of the window, and being recovered after much trouble, (it was in a town) he never 

 again offered to get out. After this we had nets at the window, and the net being one 

 day left down in my room, by running up to my mother and then into my room, he 

 attracted her notice, and she followed him, he standing before the window, and when 

 the net was replaced, showing himself satisfied. Unlike most pets, he died a natural 

 death on the 1st January, 184.3." — Arthur Hussey, Rottingdean, November, 1846. 



On Reptiles, fyc.,ncar Bonn.— One beautiful day last July, we took a drive to the alum- 

 works of Friesdorf ; as we ascended the hill, a melodious croaking was heard on every 

 side ; the coachman said it was wood-pigeons, but we made up our minds it must be 

 tree frogs ; we searched for them in vain, wherever we went the noise seemed to sur- 

 round us, but never very close ; it excited pleasing ideas of enchanted groves. I am 

 not familiar with the cooing of the stock-dove, but these voices seemed too small, too 

 numerous, and too close at hand for that. We collected specimens of the buried forest 



