River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-03-10
I" The Quaint MaCaW."
From the St. Louis Globe.

lhefe is u macaW parrot III THIS city,
which is wonder to all who ever saw
her She is about five years old, and
just one yard and three inches in length
from the end of the beak to the tip of
the tail, and her wings, when spread,
measure four and half feet. Her
plumage is exquisitely beautiful. the
wings varying in shade from a deep to
the softest pale blue, the under surface
and breast being bright orange. Her
sagacity is astonishing. IL is generally
supposed by naturalists that this spe
cies of the parrot family are not very
lOquacious, but those who have heard
this bird agree in giving her the blue
ribbon for her talking propensity,
which, by the way, WAS awarded her at
an ornithological fair held In this city.
Her talk, unlike that of most parrots.
is not mere squeaking sound, re.
sembliDg words, but uttered so full
and round that it seems really almost
human. Nor is it mele imitation. Show
her an apple, and ask her what it is,
and she will say, "aprle," as plainly
as can be pronounced by the human
organs of speech. This shows intelli-
gence, as she viii not call a potato an
apple. When asked how it tastes she
quickly replies good The same is
true when partaking of any kind of
food OF which she is fond. Her praises
are profuse, but she will not call any
thing good that she does OF like When
thirsty she calls for water. She is an
excellent elocutionist Her words are
with the rising or falling infection, ac-
cording to the sense For instance,
she will say "What does Poll want 2"
She will then answer, "Polly want ap.
ole Polly want cracker; Polly want
water etc, aud If one pays any at
tention to her she will change the en-
phasis with the skill of an orator.
When she praises herself by say
ing, Pretty Polly, she says il in
a soft, loving tone. She will suddenly
change, saying, bad Polly" repeat
ing il perhaps dozen times This is
always in the grullest tone of voice.
When guilty of any misdemeanor, such
as biting furniture, etc, she quickly
confesses her crime by proclaiming her
own badness. To give her full vo-
cabulary would not be interesting TO
the reader, as il would not likely differ
very much from all biris of this kind
b 1t the most remarkable thing is her
affection. She is fond Of her mistress,
amounting 10 idolatry, whom she calls
Mother, repeating il hundred
times day. Ii any one comes near,
aud attempts carressing her Mother
she will, with peculiar toss OF her
head and expression OF her eye, say,
My Mother AS much as to say,
"Not your mother with the intensest
satisfaction. She seems 10 have an
innate perception rs to who are her
friends, carressing some strangers
fondly, while nothing can induce her
to fall in love with others. When
her "mothern comes into the
room, especially if having
been out for few hours,
she bows and courtesies and swings
herself upon her perch, aud if nm.
chained Immediately flies upon her
shoulder, or into her lap, where she
will remain. night or day, for hours,
and when compelled TO leave shows
uumistakable signs Of grief She Is very
fond Of lying in bed, nesting down
upon side or back, her beak against
her mothers face, in most unbird-
like manner. IN the art Of kissing
she is perfec. adept. She places her
tongue against the lip, initiating a
smack bya sort ofsqueaklng sound.
When told 90 "smack her lips, she
rapidly brings her beak together, max
ing a noise like the popping Of boiling
mush. She will kiss almost any one
when asked, unless one to whom she
has an aversion, and it is not always
safe for such 10 attempt 10 WOO her.
She can laugh and cry and do great
many other smart things, which cannot
be pat on paper.