FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 



69 



sive, as to increase the affliction of the family, he 

 sank down and died, a victim to an attachment as 

 faithfiil as ever subsisted between human beings. 



Dr Thornton had a Blue Maccaw, which attracted 

 great attention at the time. This extraordinary 

 bird was in servitude at Mr Brook's menagerie, in 

 Haymarket. Like others of his tribe, he w£is 

 chained by the leg, and fed upon scalded bread. 

 Here he learned to imitate the cackling of fowls, 

 the barking of dogs ; to mimic his exhibitors, and 

 other human sounds. 



It was bought by Dr Thornton for fifteen guineas, 

 to grace his museum, or botanical exhibition. When 

 in a confined room in Bond Street, he made those 

 screaming noises so offensive in his tribe. He 

 seemed sulky and unhappy ; but being brought to 

 the doctor's house, (his botanical exhibition being 

 closed,) the doctor, from motives of humanity as 

 well as for experiment, took away the chain that 

 confined him to his perch. His feet were so 

 cramped, and the muscles so much weakened from 

 long disuse, that he could not walk. He tottered 

 at every step, and appeared, in a few minutes only, 

 greatly fatigued. His liberated feet, however, soon 

 acquired uncommon agility ; his plumage grew more 

 resplendent, and he became completely happy. He 

 no longer indulged in screams of discontent, and all 

 his gestures denoted gratitude. His food was now 

 changed, and he breakfasted with the family, having 

 toast and butter; and dined upon potatoes, hard 

 dumplings, with fi^uit occasionally after dinner. He 



