Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-01
TEACHING PARROTS.
Different Varieties Of the Bird and
Where They Come From.

As STAR reporter entered bird fancier'i
establishment few days ago, he was greeted
with o series OF yells and screeches, discord.
ant welcome from the parrots Of all sizes and
colors. which were ranged around the room,
and appeared TO vie with each other in making
the greatest racket
''We have just received fresh importation
of parrots" said the bird man, appearing from
the menagerie-room in the rear of the store,
''and from all prospects there are good many
fine takers among them"
"What varieties have you," asked the re-
porter?
"At present we have but three varieties; the
double-yellow head, the Cuban and the African
gray"
(which variety leads in intelligence" asked
the reporter.
Il prefer the African Gray parrot" replied
the bird man. yet the Cuban and yellow heads
make excellent takers
Where does the gray parrot come from?'
He comes from the west coast of Africa.
Negroes take the young birds from their nests
and sell them to captains or sailors of trading
vessels. The best birds come from vessels
plying between Africa and Boston"
"How does the trip across the ocean agree
with them?"
Every well. They seem to get acclimated in
their voyage, and generally know how to talk
some when they arrive"
How do you teach parrots to talk and how
long does it take one to learn?"
That's hard question to answer. Differen,
birds vary in intelligence. A bird will get &C.
custOmed to place in about two months, and
II given lesson every day, can talk fairly well
in that time"
"How do you give a lesson?''
''The morning hours are the best for teach
ing. Cover the cage with cloth, and then
In clear voice say word or short sentence
until the bird repeats it. Then commence
with another, and so on. When once it begins
to talk it is only question of time and pa
thence before it improves Object teaching is
a good PLAN" continued the bird man. 1.-The
parrot needs only to see and hear barking
dog, Growing rooster, or a mewing cat but a
few times before an exact imitation is given. ~
Suppose you have bird that can talk and
won't talk, is there any way to make it talk?'
There is no method that am acquainted
with, unless it be that of starvation, but that's
cruel and should not be resorted to-"
What do parrots eat?"
Parrots eat most anything that comes from
the table, and are consequently oftentimes ill
fed. Parrots, like some other birds, do not all
Like the same food. The best plan is to mix
several kinds of seeds and allow the bird to Sc
lect the kind he likes. Coffee is better than
water for parrots, but should be absorbed in
cracker or stale bread before feeding it,
"Are parrots very sickly birds?"
AFTER they get thoroughly accllmated 1T is
very seldom that they get sick, although they
are subject to irritability, fits and consumption.
For the first-named disease raw animal food
should be fed, and a raw onion or a red-pepper
pod often brings them around. Fits are occa-
stoned by overlooking. A few drops of ice
water put into the mouth will usually restore
the bird, after which he should be wrapped in
red flannel and put in a warm place"
'How about consumption; is that curable?''
"Oh yes; consumption, or wasting away as
we generally term it, is caused by improper
food. The bird, as soon as it appears to be
wasting should be kept very warm and fed
with bread mixed with cayenne pepper and
milk"
With these remarks the bird-man left the
reporter to release parrots head, which had
been thrust through the wires of the cage and
caught there.