# Polynesia — The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle character guide > Polynesia in The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting. **Role:** major **Also known as:** old Polynesia, The Bird-of-Paradise **First appearance:** 0007-part-i-v-polynesia ## Snapshot A nearly two-hundred-and-fifty-year-old parrot with the world's finest memory, Polynesia teaches animal languages and quietly engineers the Doctor's voyages. ## Who they are She perches on the desk while Tommy writes, correcting his recollections and humming sailor songs, and she is the one who first taught the Doctor to speak to animals. Cunning and unsentimental, she arranges departures in secret and forgets nothing, from notebooks to hidden high hats. Without her scheming the great journeys would never leave the harbor, and her long memory makes her the story's living archive. ## Relationships ### [Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/doctor_dolittle) _friendship_ Polynesia is Doctor Dolittle's clever and outspoken parrot, acting as his chief advisor and translator. ### [Chee-Chee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/chee_chee) _friendship_ Chee-Chee and Polynesia are fellow animal companions who often bicker but ultimately work together for Doctor Dolittle. ### [Long Arrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/long_arrow) _friendship_ Long Arrow and Polynesia share a mutual respect as intelligent creatures who communicate across species. ### [Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/doctor_dolittle) _friendship_ Polynesia is Doctor Dolittle's clever and outspoken parrot, acting as his chief advisor and translator. ### [Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/doctor_dolittle) _friendship_ Polynesia is Doctor Dolittle's clever and outspoken parrot, acting as his chief advisor and translator. ### [Long Arrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/long_arrow) _friendship_ Long Arrow and Polynesia share a mutual respect as intelligent creatures who communicate across species. ### [Chee-Chee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/chee_chee) _friendship_ Chee-Chee and Polynesia are fellow animal companions who often bicker but ultimately work together for Doctor Dolittle. ## In the story ### [The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/the-voyages-of-doctor-dolittle) The wise parrot who assists the Doctor with language and counsel. ### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/prologue) The nearly 250-year-old parrot who sits on the narrator's desk and helps him remember events with her marvelous memory. ### [Polynesia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-v-polynesia) Polynesia returns to Puddleby after five years and brings news of Prince Bumpo and Chee-Chee. ### [The Wounded Squirrel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-vi-the-wounded-squirrel) Perches on the mantelpiece, swinging her head in time to the music. ### [VII: Shellfish Talk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-vii-shellfish-talk) Greets Tommy from the hedge, complaining about the English climate and directing him to the Doctor. ### [Are You a Good Noticer?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-viii-are-you-a-good-noticer) Complains about animals disturbing the Doctor and offers to teach Tommy animal language. ### [The Private Zoo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-x-the-private-zoo) Interrupts the tour to inform the Doctor about two guinea-pigs seeking shelter. ### [My Schoolmaster, Polynesia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-xi-my-schoolmaster-polynesia) Polynesia teaches Tommy bird language and animal signs, showing patience despite occasional frustration. She also helps him with reading and agrees to speak to the Doctor about Tommy becoming a proper assistant. ### [A Traveler Arrives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-xii-a-traveler-arrives) Flies out to greet Chee-Chee, expressing delight at his return. ### [Chee-Chee’s Voyage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-chee-chee-s-voyage) Echoes the welcome for Chee-Chee's return. ### [The Purple Bird-of-Paradise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-the-purple-bird-of-paradise) Waiting in the front porch, she informs the Doctor of Miranda's arrival and Cheapside's insult. ### [Long Arrow, the Son of Golden Arrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-ii-x-long-arrow-the-son-of-golden-arrow) Asks Miranda if she consulted the black parrots, showing her knowledge of bird networks. ### [Goodbye!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iii-ii-goodbye) Takes the sea's temperature with a thermometer, mutters about the fading light. ### [Our Troubles Continue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iii-iv-our-troubles-continue) Acts as an experienced sailor, keeps the crew on schedule, and leads the search for the missing beef, discovering Ben Butcher. ### [Polynesia Has a Plan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iii-v-polynesia-has-a-plan) Devises the plan to lock Ben Butcher in the dining-saloon. ### [The Doctor's Wager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iii-vii-the-doctor-s-wager) Listens to the Doctor's conversation and devises a plan to make money through a side bet with Don Enrique. ### [VIII: The Great Bullfight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iii-viii-the-great-bullfight) Sits with Tommy and Bumpo, comments on the Doctor's methods, and predicts the show will be the greatest bullfight ever seen. ### [We Depart in a Hurry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iii-ix-we-depart-in-a-hurry) Orchestrates the collection of jewelry and money, senses danger, and directs the group's escape. ### [The Fidgit's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iv-ii-the-fidgit-s-story) Scratches angrily at the door and scolds Tommy for the ship drifting, expressing frustration at the lack of navigation. ### [Bad Weather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iv-iii-bad-weather) Keeps lookout in the rigging, warns of the approaching storm, and directs the crew to take down sails and close portholes. ### [Land!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iv-v-land) Feeds Tommy ship's biscuit; first to spot the island; advises the Doctor to move inland from the hostile Indians. ### [The Jabizri](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iv-vi-the-jabizri) Advises the group to avoid Indian paths and helps find food as a guide and jungle-hunter. ### [Hawk's-Head Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iv-vii-hawk-s-head-mountain) Devises the clever plan to use the beetle as a guide, scolds Bumpo, and spots the hidden hole in the rock. ### [A Great Moment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-i-a-great-moment) Nods knowingly at the meeting and helps by bringing nuts to the prisoners. ### [The Men of the Moving Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-ii-the-men-of-the-moving-land) Whispers to the Doctor that the Popsipetels have no fire, explaining the raw fish and lack of lights. ### [Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-iii-fire) Comments wryly on the arrival of patients during dinner, comparing the situation to Puddleby. ### [War!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-v-war) Disappears to seek help, possibly from the Black Parrots. ### [General Polynesia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-vi-general-polynesia) Brings sixty to seventy million Black Parrots to rescue the Popsipetels and commands them to drive the enemy back. ### [IX: The Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-ix-the-election) Returns from Bag-jagderag and informs the Doctor of his election as king, urging him to accept the situation. ### [X: The Coronation of King Jong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-x-the-coronation-of-king-jong) Present at the Whispering Rocks; the parrot is featured at the top of the Thinkalot totem pole. ### [Thoughts of Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-vi-ii-thoughts-of-home) Observant and perceptive, she suspects the Doctor has given up thoughts of going home. ### [IV: The Sea-Serpent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-vi-iv-the-sea-serpent) Discovers the snail, fetches the Doctor, and orchestrates the plan to rekindle the Doctor's natural history interests. ### [The Shellfish Riddle Solved at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-vi-v-the-shellfish-riddle-solved-at-last) Whispers advice to Tommy to keep quiet, helps tear sheets into bandages, and urges the Doctor to take a holiday incognito. ### [The Last Cabinet Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-vi-vi-the-last-cabinet-meeting) Leads the secret cabinet meeting, devising a plan to get the Doctor to take a holiday and escape via the sea-snail. ### [VII: The Doctor's Decision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-vi-vii-the-doctor-s-decision) The cunning old parrot masterminds the escape, secretly arranging with porpoises to persuade the snail, and ensuring all essentials (notebooks, hat, provisions) are ready. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/polynesia - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters