Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-28
our .GR BIRDS THAT TALK.
Mak 4uE Pets of Feathered Gabblers-
something About Birds of COlloquis

Max auE Pets of Feathered Gabblers-
sOmethIDg About Birds of COlIoquial
Education.
S'Hello, there!" was the shrill voice that
greeted q NEWS reporter as he passed a
certain fruit establishment in the city the
other afternoon. There was no one on
the street who appeared to be the author
of the exclamation. "Hello, there"
shouted the voice as the NEWS man start
ed On, and he stopped again and looked
around to see what was wanted. A glance
into a row of cages hanging under an
awning caught the mischievous CLEAN of
q gaudy green and red parrots eye and
told the story. 1t was no ordinary old
maids POlly-want-a-cracker kind OF a
parrot, but regular talker. He sat on
his perch with sort of what-dO-you-want-
now look in his eye and looked the
very personification of modesty and
unobtrusiveness. 'No, he's not
very wicked yet,' said the dealer,
''but there is no telling what he
may come to.' In talking with Gardner,
the Bull street fruiterer, who has had
considerable experience with the strange
birds, the News man picked up some in
teresting facts about their habits. "The
reason that parrots learn to talk easier
than other BIRDS" said MIR. Gard
ner, ais because their tongues are always
thick, round and fleshy. In their natural
state their voices are generally harsh and
discOrdant, although some Of the smaller
birds have pleasant voices.'
%Can you explain why birds talk?"
"They have to be kept separate from
each other and treated with great kind
ness. In such case they will soon pick
up almost anything they hear. l have
one at my house now thatis beginning to
Coll 81 60 oil a@aAf tn -V.~k
words he tries to utter are those he has
picked up from the passers in the street.
II they are to be taught sentences it is
necessary to repeat them over and over
again. They learn quickest and best
when they are young"
care their tongues ever lO0sened by
surgical operations?''
"NOt ordinarily, | believe. Some
times the ligament of the tongue is cut,
but it is not considered necessary"
'What birds talk the most 1luently?"
''The ordinary green parrot is a pretty
fair talker and is easily taught. He is
generally very dOcile. The African gray
parrot, the Mexican yellow head and the
Cuba parrot all exhibit greater degree
of intelligence than is usual in
birds. They all have monkey
like restlessness and love of
trickery, and, although they are affection
ate and dOcile, they are generally of ca
PRECIOUS, irritable temper. The African
gray parrot is the size of an ordinary
pigeon, but is OF a gray ash color, with
crimson tail. He is famous for his dOcili-
ty and his power of initiating noises of
all kinds, his loquacity and mischieyOus-
ness. In confinement he lives to great
age. Birds of his species have been known
maybe is great favorite and
is lively chattereT, but is not found in
this market. He is generally shy and
vigi!ant in an extreme degree, notable
for his cunning in eluding enemies and
seeking food, and, it may be said, nothing
comes amiss to it. Grain of any kind is
not unacceptable, but eggs or carriOn are
preferable. 1t is easily trained, impu-
IDENTIFY familiar, and learns to articulate
many words very distinctly.
"AnOther valuable bird for a pet is the
whistling bullfinch, which, while there
are none here, are sought after in
many places. Their training is interest
ing, and is a work of both time and
trouble. 1t is carried on chiefly in Ger
many, About nine months of patient
training are necessary to get a bird we'll
educated. 1t begins when it is a
mere nesting, and is carefully continued
until after the first mOulting; for it is
curious circumstance that all that has
been previously acquired is apt to be lost
at that time, or is afterwards so imper-
fectly remembered that the bird is of little
I11ns