A COCKATOO'S HUMOUR.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—In confirmation of the statement made in your article upon "Talking Birds," that "cockatoos are almost like mon- keys in mimicking men," I beg to send you the following simple story, the truth of which I have every reason to believe, although not personally an eye-witness of the performance. I received the account from a Bishop. A very tame sulphur- crested white cockatoo happened to be on his perch near a lawn- tennis ground. The day was damp, and the ground slippery. In the course of the game, several falls occurred. Each tumble gave rise to much laughter and merriment amongst both players and onlookers, which seemed to attract the especial attention of the bird. When the " set " was finished, and the performers were talking together on one side of the court, 'Cocky' quietly descended from his stand, walked on to the lawn-tennis ground, rolled over and over two or three times on the grass, and then picking himself up, laughed long and loud in exact imitation of the players !—I am, Sir, Fie., 7 Lowndes Street, S. W. W. HILL JANES, Lient.-Col.
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