New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-05

Now Use for a Parrot.

The owner and trainer of this parrot is a
boatman, who formerly piled between Little
Rock and New Orleans, but who some years
since gave up the business OF boating, anO
has since led the life of hunter, living in a
snug cabin at the junction Of Big Nam
| melle creek with the Arkansas river. This
hunter hermit, whose name is Nathan Lask
brought with him from New Orleans, Oh
| making his last trip to that city, hne
young parrot, to which he soon became
more attached than to any other thing on
earth. Seated upon his shoulders, the par.
rot attended him in all his walks. To tram
the bird and talk to it was almost his sole
occupation.
With the careful training Of so loving q
master, added to its great natural talent
| for initiating all manner Of cries of birds
| and animals, this bird had become marvel
OF cunning, and great wonder IN Its way
Taken into the hills bordering Big Nam.
melle creek, and the signal being given at
| intervals, it utters the cry of the turkey SO
perfectly as to deceive the Oldest and most
astute gobbler that ever strutted. On being
answered by gobbler, the parrot proceeds
to lure him to death in the most fendishly
coqUettisb manner imaginable. Seated on
his masters shoulders, charity and coyly
the parrot replies. Once he has fully at
trRcted the attention of the vain and anxious
gobbler, often allowing him to call in fret
full tone twice or thrice before deigning to
answer, he then in few low and tender
notes lures the proud bird of the forest
within range Of the hunters deadly rifle.
Seeing the turkey struggling in the agones
OF death fills the parrot with the most fend-
ish delight, to which he gives utterance in
a succession of blood-chilling cha, has," in
all manner Of diabolical tones and keys.
Should the hunter miss his aim, however.
bQ rYltfipn fQofh6ra aka and
scolds, pulls his masters hair, and long re-
fuses to be pacifed.
Duck hunting in Forche and Meto bayous
is, however, the parrots chief delight.
Seated in the bow of his masters boat,
snugly ersconced in a patch of tall bull
rushes. the parrot bursts forth into such a
"qusck, quacking," and general duck
gable, that there seems to be in the
vicinity a whole flock of these birds, all
enjoying themselves immensely. Thus are
many passing tiocks of ducks 1ured within
range Of the gun of the hunter. Geese are
in the same way called up by this wonder
full parrot; also many other wild fowl, and
even deer, as the bird initiates the plantive
bleating of a fawn or doe to nicely. No
money would buy the bird, and Nat Lask,
seen strolling through the woods gun in
hand, and with his almost inseparable
companion seated on his left shoulder,
sCcMS d SCCUuO IOUluSOu SiusOc.
Although so perfect in his limitations of
all birds and animals, the parro: is not a
great talker; indeed, bis vocabulary is linn
tied to few words and one or two short
phrases. He will sometimes sing out Nat,
you lubber," and when Dan flanagan Ia
brother boatman of Mats, living at the
head of Bayou Forche, and almost his only
visitor) in his dugout is seen padding in to-
ward the mouth of Big Mammelle creek,
the parrot-whose name we forgot to say is
Bobby-will shout, 'Lanago, ahoy! Lana
gan. a-a-hoy"
The moment Bobby sees his master take
down his gun, he is in great tiutter. He
cocks his head on one side, his great red
eyes sparkling with delight, and in a low.
inquiring tone. says: "Turkey9 turkey?'
mo, Bobby" Nat will perhaps say, mot
turkey today Bobby cocks his head the
other way, and softly says, "Quack, quack,
quack9" "Yes. Bobby" says Nat, "quack,
quackr' Bobby then bursts into a loud
"ha. ha. ha,' and cries, Nat, you lubber,
Quack, quaek, quack." Then he ha, ha, has
TIL the whole cabin rings again.-LitAe
Roca Gazette