The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-02-02
Birds That Know Something.

An exhibition of educated parrots
recently held in Paris showed very
clearly to what high state of perfec-
ton these birds are capable of being
trained. Their stage was long ta-
BILE, at one end of which were perches,
on which were grouped half a dozen
parrots. Four of these were cocka-
toos-white, with yellow crests; the
other two were gray parrots; with the
neck and under parts rose color.
Among the tricks which they per-
form at the bidding of their owner, NJ.
Abby, are the following: Two fixed
spars on upright supports are placed
on the table; parrot climbs upon one
of them, turns a somersault, keeps his
head downward, and passing on to the
second bar goes through the same ex-
ercise. Their owner then calls Tom,-
a small white parrot, who comes to-
ward him as if about to climb on one
of the bars, but runs back again, hold
ing down his head and shaking his
wings in a grotesgue way. Tom is
evidently the buffoon of the troupe A
bell is then brought with a handle
which forms a lever, a parrot ad-
vances, and putting one foot on the
lever rings the bell. The trainer asks
the audience what number of rings
they wish for; some one exelaims
.'sevenw and the parrot rings the bell
seven times.
The bird is then asked how much
does three times three make and it re-
plies by ringing the bell nine times.
A perch is then placed on the table in
the form of a see-saw, at each end OF
which a gray parrot perches, and in
the center, just above the pivot, jumps
magnificent white parrot named
Charley, the principal one in the
troupe. This parrot, throwing the
weight of his body successfully to right
and left of the pivot, rocks the see-saw
rapidly. To see the animation of this
bird during the performance one would
suppose that he took a real pleasure
in rocking his companions.
The same bird then goes through
another exercise. Four tiagstaffs. are
set up on the table, and at the foot of
each is flag attached to a cord which
passes over pulley at the top. The
| flags are English, French, Belgian and
| American. One of the audience asks
for the French flag. Charley advances,
draws himself up, erecting his bright,
yellow crest, and, spreading his wings,
| suddenly seizes the line with his beak,
and then, alternately with beak and
foot. hauls up the flag as sailor would
hand over hand-until it is fast at
the top. He then goes through the
same performance with the other flags
in succession.
Several letters of the alphabet are
placed upright upon the table, ,andChar-
ley is again brought forward, pluming
himself as before. A spectator calls
for IA letter. Charley hesitates, in
clines his head on one side, appears to
reflect, then suddenly advances and
picks up the letter named, repeating
the performance with other letters
when called for. Suddenly little Tom
jumps off his perch, runs up, seizes
the remaining letters one after an
other, and pitches them away on the
fioor. Another parrot then appears.
and at the word of command throws
several somersaults on the table. Two
others follow, and waltz slowly round
while the music plays.
OF all parrots NJ. Abby considers the
white cockatoos the most gifted in re-
gard to agility and capability for learn
ing tricks-being, in fact, acrobats by
nature They are very slow in learn
ing to talk, but they are easily tanned,
and understand and do what they are
told.-FrOn1 La Nature.