nd met two
young, long-legged pullets, running with both wings and feet toward home.
Jock pricked up his sharp ears, and would have set off at full gallop to
the copse; but I restrained him, hastening onward, however, at the top of
my speed, thinking I had as good a right to see what was the matter as
Jock.

6. Poor Yarico! An impertinent fox cub had attempted to carry off one of
her children; but she had managed to get them behind her in the hedge, and
venturing boldly forth had placed herself in front, and positively kept
the impudent animal at bay. His desire for plunder had prevented his
noticing our approach, and Jock soon made him feel the superiority of an
English mastiff over a cub fox.

7. The most interesting portion of my tale is to come. Yarico not only
never afterward ventured to the copse, but formed a strong friendship for
the dog which had preserved her family. Whenever he appeared in the yard,
she would run to meet him, prating and clucking all the time, and impeding
his progress by walking between his legs, to his no small annoyance. If
any other dog entered the yard, she would fly at him most furiously,
thinking, perhaps, that he would injure her chickens; but she evidently
considered Jock her especial protector, and treated him accordingly.

8. It was very droll to see the peculiar look with which he regarded his
feathered friend; not knowing exactly what to make of her civilities, and
doubting how they should be received. When her family were educated, and
able to do without her care, she was a frequent visitor at Jock's kennel,
and would, if permitted, roost there at night, instead of returning with
the rest of the poultry to the henhouse. Yarico certainly was a most
grateful and interesting bird. * *

9. One could almost believe a parrot had intellect, when he keeps up a
conversation so spiritedly; and it is certainly singular to observe how
accurately a well-trained bird will apply his knowledge. A friend of mine
knew one that had been taught many sentences; thus, "Sally, Poll wants her
breakfast!" "Sally, Poll wants her tea!" but she never mistook the one for
the other; breakfast was invariably demanded in the morning, and tea in
the afternoon; and she always hailed her master, but no one else, by "How
do you do, Mr. A?"

10. She was a most amusing bird, and could whistle dogs, which she had
great pleasure in doing. She would drop bread out of her cage as she hung
at the street door, and wh