16 BAUER'S PABBAKEET. 



much loud or shrill as simply exasperating. Her whistle is very pretty, 

 and she evidently has a good ear for music, as she picked up the air 

 There's nae luck about the house, on her own account, during her voyage 

 from Australia; but in that respect her career has been a blighted 

 one — not having fallen into the possession of a whistling family. 



She eats anything that is given her, and I grieve to say is anything 

 but a teetotaller; she drank up with avidity and no bad results a 

 spoonful of whiskey, which was given her once as an experiment. 



Only twice has her health given any cause for uneasiness, and then 

 warmth brought her round at once. No care is ever taken of her, 

 and it is only lately we have even thought of covering her up at 

 night, and then only for fear of cats. Her cleanliness, alas ! leaves 

 much to be desired. She abhors washing, and only expresses a wish 

 for a tub about twice a year, and then evidently bitterly repents it 

 in shivering sulkiness. She undoubtedly thrives under the no tub 

 system, and we have left off trying to force it on her. 



I can think of no other particulars respecting her. She is a dear 

 little engaging creature, and shows her discrimination by thoroughly 

 objecting to children. During her quiet moments, to know her is to 

 love her — in her more demonstrative hours, she might be usefully - 

 viewed as a heavy cross in life. 



Since forwarding the above I saw a very charming Port Lincoln 

 exhibited in the last Crystal Palace Show (1886). It whistled a tune, 

 said a word or two, and seemed most anxious to court the notice of 

 every one. It gave me a very high idea of the attractiveness of Port 

 Lincolns as pets/'' 



