232 
work will allow, but would, in a great measure, be only repeating what has already 
so frequently been told in the works and compilations of other writers. We shall 
only observe, that in many of the marvellous stories recorded of Parrots, particu¬ 
larly all such as relate to answers seemingly appropriate and consequent to ques¬ 
tions put to them, and which some authors would almost seem to imply were dic¬ 
tated by intelligence, or that the birds really understood the import of what was 
asked, are merely the result, under accidental and fortunate circumstances, of what 
had previously been taught them by frequent repetition, to articulate by rote.” 
—pp. 106—7. 
To the latter part of this dictum we cannot altogether subscribe, feeling confi¬ 
dent that in various instances, Parrots have “ intelligence” enough to understand, 
if not the exact meaning of the words they utter, the subject to which they refer. 
We know an old lady, whose feet were so excessively tender, as almost to preclude 
her from walking, and hence she always went abroad in her Bath chair. She had 
a favourite Parrot, who when the tea equipage was placed upon the table, was in¬ 
variably taken out of his cage by the footman, and placed on the board, as a pro¬ 
per accompaniment to the antiquated china. Poll, no doubt an attentive observer, 
had long perceived there was “ something rotten in the state of Denmark,” and 
hence, whenever his mistress failed to dole out what he considered his fair ration, 
he would, in a threatening manner, exclaim—“ Peck your toes , Madam” As he 
sometimes flew down from his position to put this threat into execution, the old 
lady, to avoid the assault upon her toes, indulged him with a further allowance, 
which, of course, only led to increased insolence on his part, and the threat of 
“ Peck your toes , Madam” was still oftener reiterated. At length, one day Poll 
having cried “ Wolf,” as he thought, without that attention being paid to the sub¬ 
ject which it demanded, proceeded to suit the action to the word with such effect, 
that the old lady was compelled to scream loudly for help; Poll having adminis¬ 
tered a dose of toe-pecking that put her in dreadful pain for some days. This was 
too much to be borne, and the culprit received sentence of transportation. The 
footman was directed to sell or give him away,—and what afterwards became of 
of him, we never learned. Now, though in this case we think it highly probable, 
that the mischievous threat had been taught the bird by the servants, yet Poll 
must have seen the effect it produced in occasionally increasing his allowance, 
though, doubtless, he did not calculate upon the final denouement. But we must 
not allow old Grey-pate to detain our attention any longer. We have referred to 
his figure as admirably executed, and the singular crested Plyctolophus Leadbeateri , 
and the beautiful Platycercus palliceps , are also charmingly done. The back¬ 
ground landscapes are certainly a set-off to the picture ; and though omitted in the 
plates of the Pigeons, will, we trust, in future be adhered to. The vignettes to 
each volume are very tasteful—the last particularly so, representing the tri-colour 
crested and love Parrots, by Stewart. 
