ANECDOTES OF ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 17 
spirit which animates one who has earned for himself, as the 
result of untiring energy in the advocacy of a good cause, the 
honourable title of “ The Friend of the Birds.” [Ed. N.N.] 
The Rev. F. O. Morris writes : — I think there is nothing, or 
at least I think that there ought to be nothing, which should more 
call upon us for the exercise of good feeling and kindness towards 
animals than authentic accounts of their wonderful intelligence, 
and even reasoning powers so closely allied to our own, and 
their many good qualities, which I can only wish were equalled 
by far too many among ourselves. I have determined to send 
you some such for insertion in Nature Notes, in the hope that 
they may be useful in this direction. The first communication 
which I wish to lay before your readers is from T. C. Thring, 
Esq., of the Chauntry, near Bradford-on-Avon. He sends the 
following details of a tame rook: — “ Grip made her abode with 
us of her own free will, she was released from a cage after a short 
confinement, with the intention that she should rejoin her kindred. 
These are wont to come on to our lawn, make their nests in trees 
close by, from one of which she had been taken. She struck up 
an ill-assorted friendship with King Tom, a fine peacock, and 
learnt to imitate his cry very perfectly. She evidently enjoyed 
the jugglenrent created by the imitation of the cackling of a hen, 
the barking of a dog, and 'other queer sounds she made. She 
knew the members of the family, and always became one of the 
party when my daughters sat out on the lawn, and would hide 
all sorts of ‘ finds ’ under their gowns. She was certainly the 
most amusing and intelligent pet we ever had, and her loss, which 
we believe was caused by a gun-carrying loafer, is irreparable. 
I suppose it is natural to attribute our own ideas to animals, yet 
their capacity for understanding, and evident pleasure in con- 
forming to our habits, entitle them to close companionship and 
friendship. It is clear to me that they understand the meaning 
of words, though the vocabulary be a short one ; yet I hardly 
know whether to wish that they could express their feelings to 
us by them or no. The speech of Balaam’s ass is no exaggera- 
tion of what those feelings must be, though they be inexpressible 
by word of mouth. Kindness to them is certainly well repaid, 
and life has doubtless been more often saved by their love than 
has found grateful record ; while cruelty has incurred punish- 
ment from a dumb, but not a forgetful, recipient of needlessly 
inflicted injuries.” 
Here is one from a valued correspondent, than whom the 
animals have no better nor more useful friend, Mrs. Sheppard, 
of The Cottage, Frome, Somersetshire : — She had it from the 
wife of the Bishop of Mackenzie River, who vouched for the 
truth of it herself — “ A small white terrier, belonging to Mrs. 
Alliam, had the bad habit of barking violently at the carriage 
horses when about to start. In vain was Pet scolded, he still 
persisted in his evil doings. At last one day he got too neat- 
one of the horses, and received a severe kick which sent him 
away yelling with pain. From that time Pet felt the danger 
