The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-16
GAufEMALAN BIRDS.
A Sagacfous Parrot, the Beautiful Quet-
eel, and the Useful Sopolite.
A letter from Quezaltenango, Gaute-

A Sagacfous Parrot, the Beautiful Quet-
eel, and the Useful Sopolite.
A letter from Quezaltenango, Gaute-
mala, to the New York Times says: A
small inhabitant of Central America
not heretofore mentioned by me, but
very deserving of it, is the 'loro" or
parrot One sees many that are well
taught in the United States, but doubt
if there are birds in any part of the
world which have attained such per-
fection of education as those here. l
heard one sing an save Marie" from
beginning to end without missing a
word or note or uttering a false one.
Another, belonging to a priest, could
repeat the Lords PRAYER, and should
one not understand sufficient Spanish
to know he would yet be instantly
aware that the bird was praying, so
perfect were his tones, initiating the
low, solemn voice of his master. There
are, of course, the great majority which
wish to know every moment ii there is
mo bread for Polly" and those which
use strong and emphatic language.
Some persons teach their birds to re-
peat certain answers TO certain ques-
tions, and in this way save themselves
much annoyance. In Central Ameri-
can towns the houses are built on the
hollow-Square plan, having an interior
..patia," or court. The heavy double
door leading in is usually open. Hay,
wood. and carbon or charcoal are sold
from door to door by Indians carrying
their loads ON their backs. Whatever
may be for sale is yelled at the door in
very much the same voice that venders
of oranges. strawberries. and brooms
used to call in the streets of New York,
but in this country the yelling is con-
tinued until an answer is obtained; and
when house is well supplied it is rath-
er trying to patience and latent tenn
per to have .'carbon?" thundered out
in your yard every five minutes. So
they put the parrot in a green tree,
where it is difficult to see him, and he
answers ..no," and in a voice SO human
that not five sscarbonnier" in one hum
dred can discover the deceit. All this
is very agreeable should you not wish
to buy anything, but should you wish
to buy anything the parrot answers
'tno" just the same, and probably adds
on curse, which explains common
sight-that of hatless, eoatless man
rushing out of his house into the street
to call back an Indian who has been
dismissed by the parrot.
While staying in hotel at Quezalte-
mango my room was next to that OF
German family who had a splendidly
educated parrot and little boy named
Herbert The parrot was as much a
member of the family as any of the
others, and, being constantly with
them, he became very wise. Herbert
was very often scolded and punished
by his mother-oftener, believe, than
the little fellow deserved; and these
punishments and Herbert's sobbing
and crying made decided impression
on the bird The little boys father
was often away, and / soon noticed
that he turned to the parrot for COM
panionship, as there were no little
children for playmates. When the
family left their rooms Polly was al
WAYS locked up, and during those alb
sences hewould practice hisrepertoire,
now singing some song, now swearing
at some imaginary person. Then, in
imitation of the mother and in her
harsh, stern voice, he would cry out:
sHerbert! Herbert! what do You mean
by that? You bad boy,n and after max
ing sound in imitation of slap. he
would cry and sob precisely like the
child Though knew that the family
owned this bird, yet he often deceived
me and excited what at the time was
unnecessary sympathy for Herbert.
A beautiful bird, and one now fast
becoming extinct, is the '.quetzal. the
national bird of Guatemala: and with
such reverence is he regarded that his
engraving occupies the center of the
postage stamps of the country. The
body of the bird is about the size of
that of good-sized California quail;
his general color is a beautiful emer-
aid green, with a crimson aud a yellow
luster running through it; the small
feathers of the head stand straight up,
and his four or live tail feathers, which
grow to the length of two feet, are rich
green and red. His home is in the tall
est mountains; he pines away and dies
after a month of captivity, and even
the Indians, who know his habits, are
unable to keep him alive when away
from his native haunts. 1t is said that
his food is the plantain; but confined
as pet he does not relish it, prepared
in most tempting ways. They say he
dies should one of his tail-feathers be
broken. How true this may be ] do
not know, but it seems to have some
foundation considering the great care
he takes of them.. His nest Is built in
cylindrical shape, with hole at each
end, and much resembles lady's muff.
He enters at one end and rests with his
long feathers hanging out; in leaving
his nest he never backs out-that would
ruffie and break his feathers-and the
Indians, knowing this, always ap-
proach his head and easily capture
him. After death the crimson and yel-
low luster in a greatdegree disappears,
and. this being the life of his green
color, the stuffed specimen is never so
handsome as the live bird.
The scayenger of the country is the
sopilote. or large black buzzard. Eve
ry house has two or three of these
birds continually watching for kitchen
waste and other refuse OF the house,
and though they are assisted by MANY
strange dogs the people are much in
debted to them. Sanitary precautions
are disregarded, and these birds have
constituted themselves into street.
cleaning department, removing all the
filth and carrion which would other
wise rot and tester in the hot sun to
breed disease. Swarms of them hover
on the outskirts of the towns to prey
upon the dead mules. horses. and 9TH
er animals. A mules bones will be
picked clean in two days, but before
the meal commences he must have
haut gout, for though the buzzard be
gourmand he is nevertheless eour-
met.
Banking Intelligence.