Three Parrots I Have Met.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 1 September 1886, Page 3

Three Parrots I Have Met.

I must begin by stating that I never cared for parrots —in fact, aa a child, I distinctly feared and disliked them. One of my oarliost recollectionß is that of a parrot kept by ono of my aunts whom I often visited. It seomod peaceable and quiet enough, and had much freedom, when it would meander gently about the room, neither taking notice of nor molesting anyone Emboldened by this conduct, I thought I might venture to toaso poor Polly, so creeping under tho tablo, I very gently pulled its tail. Deeply moved and inconned by this insult, Polly Hew straight at -nennd bit my finger. I acknowledged the justice of tho punishment ; atill in fright and pain, I screamed aloud, when my nurse and aunt fU-wtotherescueand restored tho outraged parrot to her cago. Tho next day on being lot loose, it flew straight at me, and tried to peck my oyos out and bit my cheeks : it nevor forgot or forgave the injury, but triei to bito mo whenever it was loose, flying at mo and pocking whenever it could, till at last it became a sort of nightmare and terror to mo, and I repented mo in tears of the wrong 1 had committed againatit. Full of years and haired, it at la .t yielded up tho ghoet, to my peace of mind and its mistress's regret Tho noxt parrot I became acquainted with did nothing to exalt hia race in my eyes. Ho belonged to a sea captain, and v>c came across him in loggings at the seasido His language was profanity itself, and beaides that ho was a tale-bearer. " i'.obert kissed tho cock ; oh lie !" was screamed out by him suddenly one day, and by thia adiscovory was made of a love story which " shook tho pillara of domestic peace;" a joalouj housemaid having taught hiui the phrase. I always think of thia parrot as a " him," for 1 should bo grieved to think of any re spectablo lady-bird disgracing; herself and sex by the very "big, big Da " that unrighteous bird used daily. My third pirrot frisnd was a grey ono, and belongod to Admiral Blank—also a seagoing bird, but how different had been his education ! He was a thorough gentleman, full of conversation on many topic, clover at whistling, ar.d able to sing a good song when occasion offered. It was in the Brazils 1 met him. We all lived in a lovely garden attached to tho hotel, where separate little houses were built with sitting and bod rooms, according to the requirements of the guests. We had one house aud Admiral Blank another, and Polly used to spend his timo in a large cage porched up in a tree, where he was very happy and conversational and became quite friondly with me, as I gave him fruits and other delicacies.

Now, there waa a hugo negro slave, upwards of six feet high, as black as coal, but a great swell, attired al.vnya in most spotless lily-white duck suits and a tall white hat, who was fold off to attend to theso gardon-housea. His name was "Whito," on tho lucu* a non lucndo principle, 1 presume ; and " White I White I" might often be heard shouted through the garden in the stentorian tones if Admiral Blank; when White would fly with an obedient start from the kitchen of the hotel hard by. One morninf' I had seen tho admiral start oil, resplendent in uniform, and knew ho waa gone ; I was surprised, therefore, to hear " \Yhite 1 White!" called in hi3ton? of voice. I could not understand it, aa I had never .'oft the garden since he went away and had not seen him return. Neither could White. He came running at.d perspiring, went to Ad miral Blank's house, and then looked about tho garder, but could not fin i him. Thon, supposing be had made a mistako, he returned to the ivory-teethed, grinning, black laundry maide, in the courtship of whom he had been intsrrupted. " White ! White !" once more resounded through the gardens, this time in very angry tones. White came in fear and haßte to find—no ono ; and the illusion was repeated eeveral times that day. I speedily discovered that Polly was the caller, and, ulaa l next day so did AVhite, a_d in his anger and spite ho would havo killed the bird had I not been there to protect him. Many a fruitless run did Polly give him after" that, for master's "While?" and Polly's "White!" were absolutely indistinguishable. - " Cornhill Magazine."