The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-12-10
A CHAPTER ON PARROTS !


longing to Morley, tradesman in the Old
Bailey, just opposite the prison, which is
vouched for as true in the strictest sense.
The man had wonderful bird sense
and his power of training birds became fa-
nous throughout the metropolis. He had
taught his green parrot to speak whenever
knock was heard at his street-door but,
when the bell of the same door was rung,
he had taught the gray parrot to answer,
The house, still standing, has one of those
projecting porches that prevent the second
story from being seen from the pavement.
One day a person knocked. "Who's
there p'' asked the green parrot.
"The man with the leather" was the
reply.
"All right ~ and then became silent
After waiting some time, and not find
ing the door opened, the man knocked
again. a.
Who's there ?" again asked the parrot.
"Who's thereP'' cried the porter out
side "It's l, the man with the leather ;
why don't you open the door?"
"All rightv' repeated the parrot, which
so enraged the man that he rung the bell.
$50 to the gate ~ shouted new voice
which proceeded from the gray parrot.
"To the gate" repeated the man, see
ing no gate what gate?"
"Newgate Newgate " responded the
gray parrot.
| ntnru h1f Gtn nC
across the street, the better to answer what
he supposed to be the insolence of the
house maids, he saw that he had been out
witted and teased by couple of parrots
This same Morley had been employed by
a gentleman, who had heard of his knowl-
edge of birds, to purchase for him white
cockatoo The price was of less impor-
tance than the health, disposition and
breeding of the bird. She was to use no
bad language, be subject to no fits of pas
sion, have been trained to be handled by
women and children, and be cleanly i'll her
habits. Morley took great pains to please
his employer, and at last sent him home
perhaps the most perfect specimen of the
breed ever seen in London. AS saw the
bird ten years ago. nothing in the way of
ornithoogical beauty could surpass it. Of
pure, snowy white from tip of crown to tip
of tail-without speck of lead, gray or
crimson on single feather free from all
sign of cross with paroquet or macaw and
in shape, attitude, bearing and action as
distinguishable as a blooded horse. Beau
tv, as she was called, stood uurivaled.
When she was sent home, there was perfect
satisfaction the employer was pleased, as
well he might be-the family of daughters
in ecstacies of admiration, and Morley
richly remunerated for his trouble. But
the bird would not talk. This was at
tributed at first to fear, then to change OF
diet and at last to absolute inability. Oh
course, there was great disappointment
Beauty's' cage hung at the dining-room
window. Every visitor was pleased with
her spotless plumage and faultess shape
and, of course, everybody sympathized in
the disappointment at her irremediable
defect
"What pity it is she does not talk y
remarked person one day at dinner
"She would be worth her weight in gold. y
"She almost cost it as it is" said pater
familias. "The creature is cheat. Fine
feathers don't make fine birds, certainly
not fine parrots. paid 10 guineas for her
and she cannot say one word"
"Ah, but think the more ! What &
the use of talking if you have nothing to
say," came in clear articulate sounds from
the cage, to the amazement of the family
and guests. That settled forever Beau
tvs supremacy.
Happy at this rejoinder was, it by nj
means gives full idea of the intelligence
of the bird. She would not learn what yor
tried to teach her, and she would learr
what she ought not. Her owner, DIR. Hall
one day peremptorily discharged servant
After shutting the door of the study, thu
latter exclaimed in anger, "D-n him
DIR. Hall is a great rascal y
The bird heard and caught the word
and could never be made to unlearn them
Dr. Hamilton Roe, waiting one morning il
DIR. Halls ante-room, observed, Beauty,
! and iocularly said: "Who are you?''
/ +" Beauty's DIR. Halls trumpeter ro-to
I to-too p replied the bird. But immediate
ly becoming grave. and edging confiden
!. TALLY toward the side of the cage, she ad
! ded, in lower voice: "D-n him Dr.
Halls great rascal y
Whether it is possible to entirely eradi
cate bad habits in parrots is doubtful
Captain Simpson, well known by trans