The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-06-05
A Hunters Parrot.

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A correspondent Of the Little Rock,
(Arkansls.) GUette seuds that paper
the following account OF a common poll
parrot, which, il is claimed has not only
been trained To hunt. but which has
learned 10 take great delight in the
chase. The owner and trainer OF this
hunting parrot is a boatman, who for
mrrly 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 u
snug little cabin AT the junction OF Biz
Mammellc Creek with the Arkansas
river. This hunter-hernit, whose name
j. Nathan I.ask, brought with him from
New Orleans. on making his last trip 10
that city, fine young parrot. Ia which
he soon became more attached than any
other thing earth. Seated upon his
shoulders, the parrot attended him in all
his walks. To train the bird aud talk to
it was almost his sole occupation. With
the careful training of so loving a mas
ter added Ia is great natural talent for
Initiating all manners of cries of birds
and animal. thi- bird had become a mar
vel OF cunning. and great wonder in its
Mamelle Greek. and the sigual being
given ut intervals. it utters the cry of
the turkey 80 perfectly as TO deceive the
oldest and most astutc gobbler that ever
strntted. On being answered by COB
bier. the parrot proceeds To lure him to
death in the most fiendishly coquettish
manner imlg ENABLE. Seated on his as
ter'> shoulders, cheerily and coyly the
parrot replies. Once he has fully at
tracted the attention OF the vain and
anxious gobbler, often allowing him toI
call in "A irctfIl tone twice or thrice be-
fore deigning 10 answer, he then.in few
low and tender notes. lures the proud
,ird OF the forest within range of the
hunters deadly rife. Seeing the turkey
struggling in the agonies of death fills
tie parrot with the most tiendish delight
In which he gives utterance.in u success
zion of bio0d-thirsty ha, has, in all
manner of diabolical tones and keys. =
Should the hunter miss his aim. how
ever, the parrot rufiles his feathers,
croaks and scold-, pulls his masters hair.
aud long refuses 10 be pacified. Duck
hunting in Forche Meto Bayous is. how
ever. the. parrots chief delight. Seated
in the bow of his masters boat, snuyly
ensconced in patch OF tall bushes, the
parrot bursts forth iate such "quack,
|quacking." and general duck gabble,
that there seems 10 be in the vicinity o
whole flock Of these birds. all enjoying
themselves immensely. Thus are many
passing flocks of ducks lured within the
reach of the gun of the hunter. Geese
are called in the same way by this won
|derful parrot also many other wild
Fowl. and even deer, and the bird imi-
hates the plaintive bleating of a fawn or
tloe TO a nicely. No money would buy
|fhc bird, aud Nat Lask, seen strolling
Through the woods gun in hand, aud
with his almost inseparable companion
seated on his left shoulder, seems a sec
ond Robinson Crusoe. Although so per-
feet in his limitations of all manner of
/. birds and animals, the par 'ot is not
great talker; indeed. his vocabulary is
United TO few words and one or two
Short phrases. lie will sometimes sing
bout. Nat, You lubber,' and when Dan.
h flanagan Ia brother boatman of Mats
living AT the head OF Bayou Forche. and
almost his only visitor,) in his dug-oui,
Is seen padding in toward the mouth Of
Big Mameile Creek, the parrot = whose
name, we forgot TO say, is Bobby will
shout, flanagan, ahoy. flanagan a-a-
hoy" The moment Bobby sees his mas
ter take down his gun he is in q great
hutter. lie cocks his head on one side
his great red eyes sparkling with delight
and in low, inquring tone SAYS: Fur
key! turkeyl' No, Bobby" Nat. will
perhaps say, "not turkey to-day" Bob
bv cocks his head the other wav. and
softls savs "Quack. quack. quack -
yes, Bobby says Nat. 'quack. quacL,
quack." Bobby then bursts into loud
= ha, ha, na1 !'and cries. Nat. you
lubber. quack, quack!r Then he LA ha 5
till the whole cabin rings again.
n.