1892.] Mental Evolution in Man and Lower Animals. 491 



F. R. S. of his own parrot, which lie carefully observed. 1 Be 

 says that when alone this bird used to " utter a long catalogue 

 of its sayings, more especially if 'it beard ta l kin g in the dis- 

 tance, as if wishing to join in the conversation, but at other 

 times a particular word or phrase is only spoken when sug- 

 gested by a person or object. Thus, certain friends who have 

 addressed this bird frequently by some peculiar expression, 

 or the whistling of an air, will always be welcomed by the 

 same words or tune, and as regards myself, when I enter the 

 house— for my foot-step is recognized— the bird will repeat 

 one of my sayings. My coachman coming for orders lias so 

 often been told ' half-past two,' that no sooner does he come 

 to the door than Poll exclaims 'half past two!' Having 

 found her awake at night I have said 'go to sleep " and now 

 if I approach the cage after dark the same words are repeated. 

 Then as regards objects, if certain words hare been spohn in 

 connection with them, these are em after amocM together. 

 for example, at dinner time the parrot, having been accus- 

 tomed to have savory morsels given to her, I taught her to 

 say < give me a bit ' This she now constantly repeats, but 

 only and appropriately at dinner time. The bird associates 

 the expression with something to eat. Again being very 

 fond of cheese, she easily picked up the word, and always 

 asks for cheese at the end of the dinner course and at no 

 other time. She is also fond of nuts, and when these are on 

 the table she utters a peculiar squeak : this she has not been 

 taught, but it is Poll's own name for unto for the sound is 

 never heard until the fruit is in sight Some noises which 

 she utters have been obtained from the objects *"■** 

 as that of a corkscrew at the sight of a bottle of winder the 

 noise of water poured into a tumbler, on seeing a hottle of 

 water. The passage of the servant down the ha 1 to open the 

 hall door, suggests a noise of moving hinges, followed by a 

 loud whistle for a cab." . . . , . 



No animal hitherto under observat.on in England, ha, 

 shown a more remarkable comprehension of spoken words 

 than the Chimpan.ee lately in the Zoolog.cal Gardens, 



