port, contrived to get on board a vessel, and took blindfold, as he travelled as accurately when the trees, but that he did it same way th port, contrived to get on board a vessel, and took his course to Vienna. They must, therefore, be endowed with some unexplained instinct which leads them to the point to which they wish to arrive. This faculty is also possessed by savages, who certainly are endowed with the same instinct, which migratory birds and some animals possess, of finding their way in a straight line from one point to another at a great distance from each other. A gentleman, who resided some years in Australia, informed me that having occasion to go a considerable distance into the interior of that country, he lost his way, and should have been unable to return had he not had one of the natives with him. This man, who had never before been more than 15 or 20 miles from his own district for fear of hostile tribes, with whom his own was in perpetual warfare, conducted him in an undeviating line of more than 100 miles to the point he wished to arrive at. I was assured that he could have done the same blindfold, as he travelled as accurately when the sun was obscured as when it was visible. The gentleman assured me that this man was not assisted in his journey by any observations on the bark of trees, but that he did it from mere instinct, in the same way that a carrier pigeon will find its way to the dove cot, many miles from where it was turned loose. 8 Parrots in general, have striking peculiarities in their manners. Both sexes readily learn to pronounce words.' BLUMENBACH. ALMOST every one has heard of Colonel O‘Kelly's Parrot. There is one however which is occasionally brought from Court, that appears to and power of imitation. Brighton to Hampton equal it in intelligence I had seen and heard so much of this bird, that I requested the sister of its owner to furnish me with some particulars respecting it, and I now give the account in her own agreeable manner of stating it. I will only add that its accuracy need not be doubted. 66 As you wished me to write down whatever I could collect about my sister's wonderful parrot, I proceed to do so, only promising that I will tell you nothing but what I can vouch for having myself heard. Her laugh is quite extraordinary, and it is impossible not to help joining in it in the midst of it oneself, more especially when she cries out don't make me laugh so, I shall 'die, I shall die;' and then continues laughing more violently than before. Her crying and sobbing are curious, and if you say poor Poll, what is the matter? she says so bad, so bad, got such a 'cold;' and after crying for some time will gradually cease, and making a noise like drawing a long breath, say 'better now,' and begin to laugh. "The first time I ever heard her speak was one day when I was talking to the maid at the bottom of the stairs, and heard what I then considered to be a child call out' Payne,' (the maid's name,) I am not well, I'm not well:' and on my saying, 'what is the matter with that child?' she replied, it is only the parrot, she always does so when I 'leave her alone, to make me come back;' and so it proved, for on her going into the room the parrot stopped, and then began laughing quite in a jeering way. "It is singular enough, that whenever she is affronted in any way she begins to cry, and when pleased, to laugh. If any one happens to cough or sneeze, she says what a bad cold.' One day, when the children were playing with her, the maid came into the room, and on their repeating to her several things which the parrothad said, Poll looked up and said quite plainly no I did'nt.' Sometimes, when she is inclined to be mischievous, the maid threatens to beat her, and she often says no you 6 6 won't.' She calls the cat very plainly, saying, 6 Puss, Puss,' and then answers mew; but the most amusing part is, that whenever I want to make her call it, and to that purpose say Puss, Puss, myself, she always answers mew till I begin |