70 



INTELLECTUAL AND IMITATIVE 



never drank like other Parrots. His sense of smelling 

 was uncommonly quick. He was quite acquainted 

 with the time of meals, which he marked by a con- 

 tinued agitation of the wings, running up and down 

 the pole, and uttering a pleasing note of request. 



When he received his food, he half opened his 

 \vings, and contracted the pupils of his eyes, and 

 uttered a pleasing note of thankfulness. If he got 

 any food of which he was not very fond, he took it 

 in his left foot, and having eaten a little, threw the 

 rest down ; but if the food were nice and abundant, 

 he carefully conveyed it to his tin reservoir, and 

 left for another repast that which he could not 

 consume in the meantime. He soon forgot his 

 barbarous sounds, and imitated w ords ; and for 

 hours together amused himself in saying " Poll," — 

 " Maccaw," — " Turn him out," — " Pretty fellow," 

 — " Saucy fellow," — " What's o'clock?" — laughing, 

 and calling out the names of the doctor's children. 

 If any were hurt, he gave the first alarm ; nor did 

 he desist until they were attended to. The doctor's 

 son, observing the sagacity of this bird, undertook 

 to instruct him. He taught him at word of command, 

 to descend from his perch, and stand upon his finger ; 

 then by another order, he turned himself downwards, 

 and hung upon the fore finger by one foot, although 

 the body was swung about with much violence. 

 Being next asked — how a person should be served? 

 the spectator waited for an answer, but the bird 

 said nothing, and seizing his master's finger, sus- 

 pended himself by his bill, like one hanging. At 



