FACULTIES OF PARKOT>. i)! 



to the favourite, he constantly refused." This 

 bird could not only repeat a great number of sen- 

 tences, but also answer a number of questions 

 * put to her. When she sung, she beat time, with 

 all the regulai'ity of a scientific performer ; and 

 she seemed so much alive to musical melody, that, 

 if she mistook a note by accident, she would again 

 revert to the bar where she had committed the 

 error, still, however, waiting time, and finishing 

 her song, with much accuracy. " 



We are told by Comte de Buffon, that his sister 

 had a Parrot which would frequently speak to him- 

 self, and seemed to fancy that some one addressed 

 him. He often asked for his paw, and answered 

 by holding it up. Though he liked to hear the 

 voice of children, he seemed to have an antipathy 

 to them, and bit them till he drew blood. He had 

 also his objects of attachment, and though his choice 

 was not very nice, it was constant. He was exces- 

 sively fond of the cook-maid ; followed her every 

 where, sought for her when absent, and seldom 

 missed finding her. If she had been some time out 

 of his siglit, the bird climbed with his bill and 

 claws to her shoulders, and lavished on her his 

 caresses. His fondness had all the marks of close 

 and warm friendship. The girl happened to have 

 a sore finger, which w^as tedious in healing, and so 

 painful as to make her scream. AMiile she uttered 

 her moans, the Piurot never left her chamber. The 

 first thing he did every day, was to pay her a visit ; 



