Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-03-05
=" The Quaint Macaw."
From thu AZ. T.ouia C1lo1>>

There is a Macaw parrot in 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 lenoth
from the end of the beak to the tip of
the tail, aud her wings, when spread.
measure four and q half feet. Her
plumage is exquisitely beautiful. the
wings varying in shade from q deep to
the softest pale blue, the under surface
and breast being bright orange. Her
sagacity is astonishing. It 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 NJ
an pathological fair held in this CITY.
Her talk, unlike that of most parrots,
is not a mere squeaking sound, re-
sembling words, bnt uttered so full
and round that it seems really almost
human. Nor is it mere imitation. Show
her an apple, and ask her what it is,
and she will say, "appls," as plainly
as can be pronounced by the human
organs of speech. This shows intelli-
gence, as she will not call q potato an
apple. When asked how it tastes she
quickly replies "good." The same is
true when partaking of anv Kind of
food of which she is fond. Her praises
are profuse, but she will not call any
thing good that she does rot like. When
thirsty she calls for water. She is an
excellent elocutionist. Her words are
with the rising or falling infection, &C.
cording to the sense. For instance.
she will say, What does Polly want ."
She will then answer, Polly want ap.
pie; Polly want cracker; Polly want
water; s. etc., and it 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 it In
soft, loving tone. She will suddenly
change, saying, "Bad Polly" repeat
ing it perhaps dozen times. This is
always in the gruffest tone of voice.
When guilty of any misdemeanor, such
as biting furniture, etc., she quickly
confesses her crime by procloimino her
own "badness." To rive her fulf 70.
cabulary would not be interesting to
the reader, as it would not likely differ
very much from all bir1s of this kind.
But the most remarkable thing is her
affection. She is fond of her mistress,
amounting to idolatry, whom she calls
" Mother" repeating it q hundred
times day. It any one comes near,
and attempts carressing her ''Mother,"
she will, with peculiar toss of her
head and expression of her eve. say.
my Mother pas much as to say.
"Not your mother with the intensest
satisfaction. She seems to have an
innate perception as to who are her
friends, carressing some strangers
fondly, while nothing can induce her
to fall in love with others. When
her smother comes into the
been out tor few hourss'
she bows and courtesies and swings
herself upon her perch, and if I'M
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
unmistakable signs Of grief. She is very
fond of lying in bed, Nesting down
upon side or back, her beak against
her mothers face, in q most unbird-
like manner. In the art of kissing
she is perfect adept. She places her
tongue against the lips, initiating
smack by q sort ofsqueaking sound.
When told to "smack her lips" she
rapidly brings her beak together, max
ing 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 to attempt to WOO her,
She can laugh and cry and do great
many other smart things, which cannot
be put on paper.