Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-06-29
II. WHITMORE,
Publisher and proprietor
AHunting Parrot.

A hermit, whose name is Nathan
Lask, brought with him from New Or
leans fine young parrot, to which he
soon became attached more than any
other thing on earth. Seated upon his
shoulders, the parrot attended him on
all his walks. To train the bird and
talk to it was almost his sole occupa-
ton. With the careful training of so
loving a master, added to its great nat
ural talent for initiating all manner of
cries of birds and animals, this bird has
become marvel of cunning and 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 perfectly as to
deceive the oldest and most astute COB
bier that ever strutted. On being an
swered by a gobbler, the parrot pro-
ceeds to lure him to death in the most
fendishly coquettish manner imaglna-
BILE. Seated on his masters shoulder,
charity and coyly the parrot replies.
Once he has fully attracted the atten-
ton of the vain and anxious gobbler,
often allowing him to call in fretful
tone twice or thrice before deigning to
answer, he then, in few low and ten
der notes, lures the proud bird OF the
forest within range of the hunters
deadly rife Seeing the turkey struggling
in the agonies OF death fills the parrot
with the most fendish delight, to which
he gives utterance in succession Of
blood-chilling ha has in all manner
of dabolical tones and keys. Should
the hunter miss his aim, however, the
parrot ruffles his feathers, croaks and
scolds, pulls his masters hair and long
refuses to be pacihed. Duck.hunting
in Fourche and Meto bsyOus is, how.
ever, the parrots chief delight. Seated
in the bow of his masters boat, snugly
ensconsced in patch of tall bullrushes,
the parrot bursts forth into such a
"quack, quacking and general duck
vicinity a whole flock of these birds, all
enjoying themselves immensely. Thus
are many passing hocks of ducks lured
within range of the gun OF the hunter.
Geese are in the came way called up by
the parrot also many other wild fowl,
and even deer, IS the bird initiates the
plaintive bleating of fawn or doe to a
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, seems second Robin
son Crusoe. Although so perfect in bis
limitations of all manner of birds and
animals, the parro. is not great talker;
indeed his vocabulary is limited to a
few words and one or two short phrases.
He will sometimes sing out: Nat, you
lubber," aud when Dan flanagan Ia
brother boatman of Mats, living at the
head of Bayou Fourehe, and almost his
only visitor) in his dug out, is seen pad
ding in toward the mouth of Big Man.
melle creek, the parrot-whose name,
we forgot to say, is Bobby-will shout;
flanagan, ahoy flanagan, ahoy The
moment Bobby sees his master take down
his gun, he is in a great hutter. He
cocks his head on one side, his great
red eyes sparkling with delight, and, IN
low, inquiring tone, says: Turkey
turkey?" INC, Bobby" Nat will per-
haps say, not turkey to day" Bobby
cocks his head the other way and softly
says: "Quack, quack, quackl" Bobby
then bursts into a loud hs, ha hal
and cries, Nat, you lubber, quack,
quack, quaekl " Then ha, ha, has till
the whole cabin rings again. s