21 NOVEMBER 1908, Page 34

A. PARROT STORY.

[TO THE EDITOR OF SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—The story of the parrot on p. 711 of the Spectator of November 7th reminds me of an incident told me by the late Canon Courtney, of Bovey Tracey, as having occurred in his

presence when he was once staying at a country house where there was a large party of notables. One evening, as the gentlemen of the party were filing into the dining-room for family prayers (not then out of fashion), the parrot, whose cage was near the door, eyed each entrant as if endeavouring to recognise them. As the most diminutive of the gentlemen passed in, the parrot, evidently puzzled, said most distinctly : "And who the devil are you F" It was Lord John Russell.—