The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-11-09
FUNNY PETS.

Creatures With a Sense of Humor.
 The chief bird pet of my life in noto- riety and interest was raven. We my husband and I--bought him in Leadsnhall Market with the down of youth among his feathers; we brought him home to Yorkshire and called him Grip, He was a sapient fowl and a past master in mischief. At first we gave him full liberty, but rued our con- fidence; for after several misdemeanors he eliminated his crimes by flying up into @ guests bedroom window, picked every cork and stopper out of all bot ties, spoiled a gown lying on the bed and damaged her property generally So we clipped his wings and confined his misconduct to the ground floor He used to hop about with his head on one side eerily watching one's every move. One day I had labored in the heat to arrange my flowers in hall and draw ing-room, and then went for a stroll On my return Grip was basking In the sun half asleep, so virtuous in aspect that with misgivings l entered the house. @
 Every flower was out of every vase, the little vases all on the fioor--strange to say, unbroken-the larger ones all unset. A favorite fan was picked to shreds all the letter weights gone, and other mischiefs perpetrated. Grip must have been dtligent, for my absence was brief
 After that we wired the lower win tows. My husbands room had a glass door. from which steps went down to- ward the stables. On cold winter nights we would hear a tap-tapping, like Poes bird, on the glass, and the opened door admitted Grip glistening with wet He did not remark Never more" but proceeded to mount the back of the chair nearest the fire, and shake and preen himself till he was dry. Then he would jump down and seek occasion of mischief all around the room, till we tired of herding him, and once more committed him to the outer dark He used to carry things off and hide them; big huff of mine, thrice his own size, suffered from two days exposure in distant field.
 But Grip was best fun with seven black collie pups, when these were old enough to play in the back premises. believe he was jealous of them, for they attracted much attention. If a hapless pup got anything to play with, Grip at once took its toy away; and if the pack started in numbering pursuit of the treasure. the raven would turn, cower- ing and fiuttering, and opening wide slis beak, would croak and scream in Iudicrous Can't you let poor d-l alone?" fashion. If the pups bFun- SIered at play together, rolling over in heaps, Grip saw his chance, and, hop ping sideways, would hustle up to the palpitating pile, and nip the most prominent tail in his strong bill, till the insu1ted puppy, yelping with pain, as saulted whichever of his brethren came nearest as the offender. Meantime Grip. retired and apart, sat looking as if such games made him sad-till he saw his next opportunity.
 I once bought little gray and red parrot at a big store. She seemed qui- et. and I thought she was shy, but soor found she was i'll. She took to me al snce-ate from my hand, and, as hel nilnlent increased, would feebly far her downy wings for me to take her out nf her cage, when she would nestle or my arm like a sick child She was 2 oiteous little parrot, and l sat up nos1 of two nights with her, trying all rem edies; she seemed to appeal for com. fort and really wish to live. But hel doom was sealed when I bought her and she died within a week.
 have since heard-and, if true, SC horrible a scandal demands attention that these parrots are imported into