The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-06-07
PARROTS. PERveRslrIEs.
Hints and Helps for Those Who
Teach POIIy's Idea How to Shoot.
TIL /,

01nLS anu HELPS IOF 1hOSe w nO
Teach PolIy's Idea How to Shoot.
London telegraph
When Juvenile the bird is very i'm
pressionable. Adult, it is liable to be
obstinate, and, like the proud Briton
who refused to truclle to the German
system of genders, it oftentimes learns
a new language very imperfectly Two
old birds, indeed, show extraordinary
antipathies to syntax, and get whims
into their heads about the construction
of sentences which the utmost
patience or violence, as the case may
be, is powerless to dissipate. You can
not disabuse an old parrots mind of an
error that it has once cordially enter
tained. 1t has it's own ideas of gram
matical proprieties, and clings to them
like limpet You cannot shake it on
a matter of English. You may teach it
another phrase altogether, but it will
not forego the first 1t will tag the
two together aud mix them up-like the
Protestant kettle of the immortal
Barnaby's raven but this compromise
is the best terms you will make with
the bird
When possible. therefore, secure a
young parrot, catch it at good school
board age, and then teach it yourself
While doing so keep it away from the
contaminating influences of street BOYS,
for bakers boy VIII teach it to ask
who kissed the cook ?" in half dozen
easy lessons, while you are wearing
your days out in impressing "God save
the queen upon its memory, and, after
all, the Odds are the bird will say, God
save the cook" Street cries, again, are
to be avoided if possible. It is not we'll
to have bird calling "cats'mea." dur
ing family prayers
But above all the educator of the
youthful fowl should herself be circum-
spect in her language, and careful of
the pitch of voice, for it will catch
her scolding tones at once, and pick up
"Bother that cat Pin her exact voice
too-long before it will learn to say,
Dear little puss." Those who have a
harsh laugh, or suffer from catarrh, or
an impediment, or any defect of speech,
should choose other pets than parrots
guinea pigs or squirrels, or some
other harmless "dumb" animais-for
these birds have a perfectly malicious
aptitude for hitting off such weak
points If old Mr.. Weller had kept a
good parrot at the Marquis of CRANKY
the position of Stiggins would have
been impossible; the mimic would have
utterly routed the snuffling rascal. So
that the difficulties in the way of bring
ing up ones own bird are considerable.
But if it can be accomplished the re-
suit will abundantly repay the labor,
were it only in keeping the possessor's
mind free from any disluieting appre-
tensions as to what that parrot will
say next" 1t is a great relief to Wis.
itors to know that, when out of polite
ness they take notice of their hostess
bird, there is no danger of awkward
rejoinders. It disconcerts the average
caller if, when he says pretty Poll,
the parrot retorts with Jorrocks' apos
trophe to Altaxerxes, "Get hup, you
hugly BEAST" and the sesquipedalian
oath of the mariner articulated like q
centipede in an unbeftting response to
friendly invitation to have poll
scratched, By all means, therefore, il
you wish to be able to depend upon
your bird in mixed company teach it te
talk yourself