144 
TALKING BIRDS 
before gave an excellent instance of the association 
in its mind of words with things. Before it could 
talk, it was friendly with a kitten which used to enter 
its cage. This kitten was sent away, and for a year 
there was not another in the house. Then a grey 
Persian kitten was bought, and when introduced to 
the parrot was at once addressed as “ Kitty,” a word 
he had hardly heard since the departure of the other. 
The correctness of parrots’ imitation, the result, no 
doubt, of their careful practice, is remarkable. A lady 
of the Dutch Court, visiting the palace in the wood at 
the Hague soon after the death of the late Queen of 
Holland, was startled by hearing the Queen’s voice 
exactly reproduced. It was a white cockatoo that 
had been a great pet of hers, which was in a corner of 
the room. 
Parrots have no exclusive liking for the English 
language. They learn German, French, and Dutch 
quite easily. Another parrot at the Hague went 
through part of the Lord’s Prayer in Dutch at an 
afternoon party, with other fragments of its mistress’s 
devotions, which it had heard when in her room. All 
small white and sulphur cockatoos seem to say, 
“ Kiipper crou” when they want their heads scratched. 
We have translated it, “ Scratch a poll;” but it is 
probably pure parrot language. Go up to any cocka- 
too and say this to him, at the same time holding 
the hand well above his head, and he will probably 
answer, and gradually lower his head and crest to allow 
you to gently ruffle the feathers the wrong way. 
