Year: 1873

anything, it cried out in tones of greai
rage and anger, Awkward brute he never
does anything else = 1t had probably
caught up the expression and tone thai
had been thrown at an unlucky clerk in 6
former house, and used it to good advant-
age.


A RELIGIOUS BIRD.


Levaillant saw a parrot turn over on it,
bacs, clasp its claws in an attitude of sup.
pIication, and repeat the Lords Prayer
without single mistake; and De la Bord:
relates that he saw parrot take the place
of a chaplain on board ship. She Stood
up, and in decidedly ministerial style
or style common to many ministers, re.
cited the prayer and rosary to the crew


The Polly wants a cracker bird, is very
common, but it is rarely that we hear a
bird repeat long sentences with an evident
understanding Of the same. Their re-
marks are generally SO apropos that it
is hard to think it mere mimicry but it
is evidently so, from the fact that they
never improve without a certain amount of
teaching, and make use of their store of
knowledge at all times and places.


There is an amusing story told of par,
rot owned by Southern planter, that one
Saturday night was locked up in room
used as place Of worship by the slaves.


On Sunday morning they were all gath
cred together, and just as the minister was
about to read the text chuckling noise
was heard, that in an instant was followed
by peal upon peal of the most boisterous
laughter.


1t had such an effect upon the supersti-
tious darkeys that those near the door in a
body remembered engagements, and Sc
ries Of CHASTITY yells and screams soon
started the whole congregation, and there
was wild rush for the door that threaten
ed destruction, not only to the gorgeous
apparel Of the ladies, but to life and limb.
The room Was soon cleared, however, the
last ones out being helped along by such
pleasant expressions, as You black
scoundrel, get my hatr and then burst
of wild laughter, that to their terrified SEN
ses sounded like the voice of the fend in
carnate.


After they had recovered somewhat from
the scare,a committee of investigation was
appointed, and after a careful search the
old parrot was found up among the ratters,
chuckling to herself in high glee at the
commotion she had caused.


NAUTICAL PARROT.


Dire results often happen from their
babbling propensties, as will be seen from
the following:


A captain of large vessel owned par,
rot that had so mastered the nautical
phrases that it was almost impossible to
distinguish between her voice and that of
the mems, Many time had the sleepy
watch been turned out by her loud cry OF
All hands on deck and on one occasion
the man at the helm brought the ship up
into the wind, in obedience to the com
mand of Hard alec y But she capped
the climax one afternoon as they were
lying off shore and taking aboard passen-
gers.


Tho ladies were being hoisted up to the
high deck in chair, to when was fasueu-
ed rope, by which the men were hosting
the valuable loads


They were all hoisted aboard in safety
with one exception of a very nervous old
lady, who wanted to put the aerial voyage
off as long as possible at last, however
she was lashed, and was soon swinging
mid heaven and earth


At this eventful moment the parrot, who
had probably held its tongue as long as
possible, screamed out Let 60, and the
men, thinking it was the voice of the mate,
lowered away with such an uncalled-for
readiness that the old lady was almost
drowned before the mistake was discover
ed.


This last feat was.too much for human
endurance, and the poor bird was Danish
ed for life. There is such a thing as know
ing TOO much, even among birds.


OTHER TALKING BIRDS.


Ravens, crows, and magpies are very
apt at learning. and are much more enter
tanning as pets, than parrots. Every body
is familiar with Grip owned by Barnaby
Rudge, and his Polly, put the kettle on
and wei all take tea, and numerous other
queer sayings, all founded on fact, as Dick
ems was extremely partial to ravens, and
in owning several very intellectual ones
he had a rare chance to study them in their
various moods.


In speaking of the first that he owned he
says: He had from the first, as Sir Hugh
Evans says of Anne Page, good gifts,
which he improved by study and attention
in most extraordinary manner. He slept
in stable, generally on horseback, and so
terrified a Newfoundland dog by his per-
ternatural sagacity that he has been known,
by the mere superiority of his genius, to
walk off unmolested with the dogs dinner
before his face


OF another he says: Perhaps never
saw him at his best, for his former master
sent his duty with him, and said if [ wish
ed the bird to come out very strong to be so
good as to show drunken man, which |
never did, having unfortunately none but
sober people at hand. Once | met him
unexpectedly, about half mile off, walk
ing down the public street attended by
pretty large crowd, and spontaneously
exhibited the whole of his accomplish
ments.


His gravity under this trying ordeal
can never forget, nor the extraordinary
gallantry with which, refusing to be
brought home, he defended himself be-
hind pump until overpowered by mum
bers.


1t may have been that he was too bright
genius to live long, or it may have been
that he took something pernlclous into his
bill and thence into his NAV, which is not
improbable, seeing he now pointed the
greater part of the garden wall by digging
out the mortar, broken countless squares
of glass by scraping away the putty from
around the frames, and tore up and swal-
lowed in splinters the greater part of a
wooden staircase. of six steps as well as the