Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-06-25
A Hunters Parrot.

magazine.
A Hunters Parrot.
A correspondent of the Little Rock
ark Gazette sends that paper the fol-
lowing account of common poll-par-
rot, which, it is claimed, has not only
been trained to hunt, but which has
learned to take great delight in the
chase. The owner and trainer of this
hunting parrot is boatman, who for
merly piled between Little Rock and
New Orleans, but who some years since
gave up the business of boating, and
has since led the life of hunter, living
in snug cabin at the junction of Big
Mammelle creek with the Arkansas
river. This hunter-hermit, whose name
is Nathan Lusk, brought with him from
New Orleans, on making his last trip to
that city, fine young parrot, to which
he soon became more attached than any
other thing on earth. Seated upon his
shoulders, the parrot attended him in
all his walks. To train the bird and
talk to it was almost his sole eccupa-
ton. With the careful training of so
loving a 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 a
great wonder in its way. Taken into the
hills bordering Big Mammelle creek,
and the signal being given at intervals,
it utters the cry of the turkey so per-
fectly 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 hendishly-coquettish manner i'm
aginable. Seated on his masters shout
ders, charity and coyly the parrot re-
plies. Once he has fully attracted the
attention of the vain and anxious COB
bier, often allowing him to call in a
etful tone twice or thrice before deign-
ing 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 strug-
Cling in the agonies of death fills the
parrot with the most fendish delight,
to which he gives utterance in q success
sion of blood-chilling "ha, has," in
all manner of diabolical tones and keys.
Should the hunter miss his aim, how
ever, the parrot ruffies his feathers,
croaks and scolds, pulls his masters
hair, and long refuses to be pacifed.
Duck-hunting in Forche and Meto
bayous is. however, the parrots chief
delight. Seated in the bow of his mas
ter's boat, snugly ensconced in patch
of tall bulrushes, the parrot bursts
forth into such "quack, quacking,"
and general duck gable that there
seems to be in the vicinity whole flock
of these birds, all enjoying themselves
immensely. Thus are many passing
focks of ducks lured within range of
the gun of the hunter. Geese are in the
same way called up by this wonderful
parrot; also many other wild fowl, and
even deer, as the bird initiates the plain
tive bleating of fawn or doe to a
nicely. No money would buy the bird,
and Nat Lusk, seen strolling through
the woods gun in hand, and with his
almost inseparable companion seated on
his leIJ shoulder, seems second Robin
son Crusoe. Although so perfect in
his limitations of all manner of birds
and animals, the parrot is not a great
talker; indeed, his vocabulary is limited
to few words and one or two short
phrases. He will sometimes sing out,
" Nat, you lubber," and when Dan
flanagan Ga brother boatman of Mats
living at the head of Bayou Forche, and
almost his only visitor, in his dug-out,
is seen padding in toward the mouth
of Big Mammelle creek, the parrot
whose name, we forgot to say, is Bobby
will shout, flanagan, ahoy ! Lana
gan, a-a-hoy!" The moment Bobby
sees his master take down his gun he is
in great futter. He cocks his head
on one side, his great red eyes sparkling
with delight, and in low, inquiring
tone says turkey, turkey ?" "No,
Bobby" Nat will perhaps say, "not
turkey to-day" Bobby cocks his head
the other way, and softly says, "Quack,
quack, quack ?" "Yes, Bobby says
Nat, "quack, quack r Bobby then
burts into a loud cha, ba, Ia '' and
cries, "Nat, you lubber. quack, quack !"
Then he ha has till the whole cabin
rings again.