Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/455

Rh More young Ravens were brought to a Plymouth dealer in live birds. He had lost an old one which had been in his possession for upwards of twenty-five years. It was a famous talker, as an illustration of which I may mention a rather amusing incident which occurred to me not long since. Mr. Rogers, the owner of this Raven and a dealer in various objects of Natural History, had a large Fox Shark or Thrasher, Squalus vulpes, brought to him one Saturday night, and as it was to be sent away early on the following Monday morning, to be preserved or to have a cast taken from it, I called on Sunday to ask if I might be allowed to make a sketch of it. My request was readily granted, Mr. Rogers telling me that I could go through the passage into a back court, where I should find the fish lying on the pavement, and there would be no one to disturb me. I accordingly followed his direction, and had just begun operations when I was rather startled by a gruff voice exclaiming "Who are you?" On looking round and seeing no one I proceeded with my sketch, when the voice again demanded, in a more peremptory manner, "Who are you?" I was now beginning to feel a little awkward and annoyed, but on turning quickly round on the third challenge, much to my surprise and amusement, I found it was none other than the old Raven, which I had not before noticed. I am well aware that talking birds have no idea of the meaning of what they say ; but, under the circumstances I must confess that the question was, at least, most appropriate and well put. Whilst on this subject, I may perhaps be allowed to mention a little anecdote concerning a Parrot. When attending a crowded sale-room in which an excellent talking Grey Parrot was to be sold, the auctioneer, after having exhausted his vocabulary in extolling the merits of this wonderful bird, added, "Of course, ladies and gentlemen, you cannot expect it to talk in a room so crowded with strangers, but I can give you my word that it is the best talker in the West of England," and after dwelling a long time on the last bid, "Going, going, gone!" down went the hammer with a bang, upon which the bird instantly exclaimed "There now!"

On July 22nd I visited Bovisand, where I met with five Ravens, a whole family, and afterwards heard others. I was pleased to hear from a friend who is well versed in Ornithology that he had then lately seen more than a dozen Cornish Choughs and three Common Buzzards about the cliffs on the coast of Cornwall.