Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-05
A NEW USE FOR A PARROT.
DeeOying the Forest Birds within fsae
Range OF His Masters Rifle.
Little Rock Gazette. i

DeeOying the Forest Birds within me
| Range OF His Masters Rifle.
Little Rock Gazette.
The owner and trainer of this par
rot is n boatman, who formerly piled
between little Rock and NeY Orleans,
but who sosae years since gave up the
business of boating, and has since led
the life of hunter, living IN a snug
cabin at the junction of Big Mammelle
creek with the Arkansas river. ms
hunter-hermit, whose name Is Nathan
Lask, brought with him from New Or
leans, on making his last trip to that
city, fine young parrot, to winch ne
soon became more attached than to
any other thing on earth Seated up
on his shoulders, the parrot attended
him IN all his walks To train the bird
and talk to it was almost his sole o. Gu
patton.
With the careful training of so low
ing master, addedto its great natural
talent for initiating all manner of cries
OF birds and animals, this bird had be-
come a marvel of cunning, and a great
wonder IN its way. Taken into the
hills bordering Big Mammelle Greek,
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 a gobbler, the par
rot proceeds to lure him to death In the
most fendishly eoquettishman ina
glnable. Seated on his masters shoulder
charity and ooyly the parrot replies.
Once hehas fairly attracted the the at
tention of thevain and anxious gobbler,
often allowing him to call in fretful
tone twice or thrice before deigning to
answer, helthen IN few low and tender
notes lures the proud bird of the forest
within range of the hunters deadly
rifle. Seeing the turkey struggling In
the agonies of death fills the parrot
with the most fendish delight, to which
he gives utterance in a succession Of
blood-chilling cha, has, "in all manner
of diabolieal tones and keys. Should
the hunter miss his aim. however, the
parrot ruffies his feathers, croaks and
scolds, pulls his masters hair, and long
refuses to be pacifed. O.
Duck hunting in Forche and Meto
bayous is, however, the PARROTS chief
delight. Seated in the bow of his
masters boat, snugly ensennced In a
patch of tall bullrushes, .ae parrot
bursts forth into such "quack, quack-
ing" and general duck gable, that
there seems to be in the vicinity a
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 birdimitates
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 Robinson 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 a few words
and one or two short phrases. He viii
sometimes sing out, Nat, you lubber,"
and when Dan flanagan Ia brother
boatman of Mats, living at the head
of Bayou Forche, and almost his only
visitor IN his dugOut Is seen padding
in toward the mouth of Big Mammelle
Greek. the parrOtt-whose name we for
got to say is Bobby-will shout, Lam
agan, ahoy! flanagan, a-a-hoy -
The moment Bobby sees his master
take down his gun, he is in great fut-
ter. He cocks his head on one side, his
great red eyes sparkling with delight,
and In a low, inquiring tone, says:
Turkey? turkey?" NO, Bobby"
Nat viii perhaps say, mot turkey to-
day" Bobby cocks his head the o'her
way and softly says. ''Quack. quack.
quaek ?" Yes, Bobby" says Nat.
"Qaack, quackr' Bobbythen bursts into
a loud ''Ha, la, ha," and cries. Nat, you
lubber. quack. quack, quaek!" - Then
he ha, has till the whole cabin rings
again.