150 
BIRD-LIFE. 
hast thou done now ? thou rascal, thou scamp; wait 
awhile, and I’ll give thee a thrashing.’ There was a 
little bell hanging up in its cage, which it would often 
ring, and then it would call out: 4 Who’s that ring¬ 
ing ?’ ... 4 Polly’s ringing.’ If its master asked, 4 What 
is the dog saying ? ’ it would immediately bark; should 
he say, 4 Whistle to the dog,’ it would whistle to the 
animal exactly in the same way as we should, and then 
call out: 4 Ah ! the dog is there ; it’s a pretty dog; what 
a pretty dog it is.’ Just in the same way if told to shoot, 
it would say, 4 bang! ’ forthwith; he made the sound 
4 puff.’ He also had his own words of command, such 
as 4 halt,’ 4 dress,’ 4 attention,’ 4 make ready,’ 4 present,’ 
4 fire,—bang ! ’ 4 Bravo; bravissimo ! ’ It would, however, 
often omit the word 4 fire ; ’ when it would never exclaim, 
4 Bravo, bravissimo ! ’ as though conscious of its mistake. 
Not long ago it was ill for twelve days; and all the 
time it was unable to utter a sound. During the first 
days of its convalescence, however, it was extremely 
difficult for it to say 4 bang.’ It would, on such 
occasions, always make a pause after the word 4 fire,’ 
before it began again to repeat, 4 halt,’ 4 dress,’ 4 atten¬ 
tion,’ &c. It would often whistle as though for some¬ 
body, and then call out: 4 Mr. neighbour, stop a bit! ’ It 
imitates the Cuckoo and the Cockatoo to perfection. It 
says : 4 God save the Emperor; long live the Emperor ; ’ 
4 Where dost thou come from ; ’ 4 Beg pardon, your grace ; 
I thought you were a bird; ’ 4 Give me a kiss, a dainty 
kiss,’ when it would make the sound with its beak. At 
another time it would say: 4 Prayers ; let us go to 
prayers.’ 4 Let’s go to the window,’ a favourite place of 
his. 4 Reverend sir, give me an almond, please.’ 
4 Captain, my compliments to you, captain.’ 4 Churl, 
