three o'clock before
A drink of water to wash the food down , and he returned to the middle of the cage , where he proceeded to conduct a few intimate researches with his beak under his left wing . After which he mewed like a cat , and relapsed into silent meditation once more . He closed his eyes and pondered on his favorite problem -- Why was he a parrot ? This was always good for an hour or so , and it was three o'clock before he had come to his customary decision that he did n't know . Then , exhausted by brain-work and feeling a trifle hipped by the silence of the room , he looked about him for some way of jazzing existence up a little . It occurred to him that if he barked again it might help . `` Woof-woof-woof ! ''