Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-11
.ssFell, after she,oldulaay bought Tho.

parrot she hung its cage in the hall.
way, and, as the parrot Vas YER tame.
D cage door was left open. The girls
SAID That it was a dear bird and were
very much pleased with it indeed. They
fed it apples, and everything else they
had mandy, and when they went to bed
they conflded to each other that the
new parrot was indeed a pet. At seven
O'Clock the next morning the old lady
went to the foot of.the stairs and called
the girls as usual. The gray parrot,
which had watched her with interest
and listened attentively to all she had
to say, thought he would try his hands
at calling the girls. after the old lady
had gone back to the dining-room. So,
initiating her voice, he called: oas
".Marla, Louisa, Carrie, get up
A they didn't. he thought thew
might not have heard him, so he kept
on ealing until the girls came down
stairs. After that he called them e
morning, and they couldn't sleep a
wink after seven o'clock, and the old
lady was as pleased as she could be-.
The girls, however, got tired after a
while OF losing their morning maps,
and SO night before going to bed
they. put the parrot in his Gag shut
the door, and then put the cage down
in the cellar. In the night the rats
killed the parrot, and the girls were
glad, although they said they were not.
Zone of the strongest characteristics
Of the African parrot is his jealous dis
position. He can't bear to see any at
tention shown to any other pet, and if
he does he often gets into a great
rage. A lady friend of mine had a
parrot of which she thought the world,
and she used to feed it herself every
day: Well, when she got a little son
the baby claimed a good deal Of her at
tention, and the bird was neglected.
He had not seen his mistress for nearly
two months, and when she came into
the room where he was he was very
glad indeed, and said all the friendly
things he could remember until he
caught sight of the baby in the lady's
arms. Then he got very angry, and
flew at the baby, and continued to do
SO every time he got the chance. The
lady had to give the bird away.
1.-The African parrot" the bird fan
cier went on, comes from the south
west coast of Africa. The natives
steal the young ones from the nests
and catch the old ones in traps. They
are bought chiefly by the captains Of
trading vessels, who bring them to this
country. As the trip is a long one.
they learn a good deal from the sailors
on the way over, and often pick up a
choice stock of profanity while on ship
board. The parrots that come from
Mexico are next to the African parrots
in intelligence. They are green, with
a pale orange forehead and scarlet
tipped wings. They are very tame,
and readily learn to sing. But although
they are tame, they are able to take
are of themselves, A cat killed sew.
eral song birds at my house one night.
there was a parrot in the room, but he
was all safe. The cat came around
after the parrot the next night. Twas
awakened by hearing a great noise.
went down stairs. The parrot was
shouting Pretty Pol, Pretty Pol
struck a light, and then saw the parrot
with his feathers all rutfied and spat.
tered with blood. He was all right
though, and had put out the cats eye.
| with his beak."-N. y. Sim.