The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-01
THE TALKATIVE p0LLIES.
AN ENTHUSIAST PRESENTS iES
VIEWS ON PARROTS.


Different Kinds and where They Come
From The Females Can Learn 10 T,lh.
Some Practical Hints rn Patriot Dietary
mud framing,
Il suppose YOU know that every ship from
the isfhmus lands ~ 'ess; a score Of parrots
IN San francisco said an enthusiastic bird
tanner 20 a reporter lately.
"What becomes Of themr
81 believe most Of them de within a month
for want Of proper care and itfy few OF the
rest learn 10 laik. It wouldn't be an exag-
gerati0n 10 say that half The population Of
san Francisco has tried Is hand at parrot
keeping; but a good talking bird is as rare as
ever, and viii always command a high price.
OF course oil the parrots don't come from the
isthmus or the coast towns where the steam
crs call; but enough cou,e from .he,e points
at a low Ashft 10 make it we'll worth while
iol man 20 undertake the business OF train
ing and acclimatizing them. You can get
young parrot az CorcntO or Acapulco. or az
almost any Central American port, for five
pesos about so, that win be worth $50 or
500 when properly taught. It's easy enough
when you know the way"
"Some varieties are better than others, are
they notf'
81 les, but practically any parrot can be
trained 10 talk II you commence when the
bird is young. There is a common but fool
ish notion that IL is only the male birds that
talk As matter OF fact, there Is no more
difference In this respect than IA the human
species. The ben parrot Con ID her share Of
talkiag.'
WHAT THEY EAT.
do the different kinds OF parrots require
different foolC
Certainly; that is one Of the secrets Let
me describe 20 you here the kinds Of parrot
commonly met with in this country. OF
course, Won know they ore all imported and
acclimatizci. the bird being strictly tropical
in rs natural habitat. Tue Mexican doubt,
yellow head parrots are amcng the bo-'
birds we get. they have Der tai.ine
power, greater sharpness in picking up words
and tricks, and a more pleasing. human like
voice than the other varieties They are also
quick t1 become attached 20 their owners,
and 10 make strangers feel like strangers
which IS one Of the chief charms Of parrot
Cor The average man or woman That's hu
mau nature, isn't iti n a parrot VIII take %
everybody The owner has 30 use for IT, This
variety has another good Guality-that o.
cariessnes Mexican double yellow head
parrot will convince auy cat in about two
minutes chat distance lends both enchaut-
neut aud safety TO tie view As 10 what
hose birds can learn, ! VIII only say that
hey have been taught % initiate al the ami.
mails in the tarnygrd-thc ro0ste-, the dog
Doe pigs, the pea hens, the turkeys. they can
be- made 10 repeat half dozen letters Of the
dphabct correctly in succession spell words
and as 10 swearing viii pick mp 'cuss
words as quick as any lO-ycar-old ganin in
Tar Flat"
"Are these birds tie ones which die OF So
iostN
"Yes because they are the most sensitive
Of all parrots. They require special care tie
first winter, and should be kept warm and
ont of the draught. Just here | will give
you a pointer. II sou put monkey, an ant
eater. parrot or any tropical animal IN a
draught Of air-as, for instance, by opening
the window In a room where Gre Is burning
YOU are going 20 lose your pet. il will
NiLNN fNlA Nllil Al' N- surrey tA1 II go" Att'A
put 10 in q refrigerator car"
"Then The imported parrots die Of coldf
"Not an Of them. 1t is not really cold
enough in san Francisco 10 MI a parrot,
even ON cold day but draughts are fatal,
IN summer and winter alike. The real trouble
people have in raising parrots is because they
will not try % believe that the birds get
along much letter at first without drinking
water II YOU set a vessel Of water near a
freshly imported parrot, however healthy 1t
viii drink itself 20 death; that's what
mean"
DRINKING WATER.
"Thcn You would give them no water at
aha"
''Not exactly that a Little water may be
given to "a Young bird every day, say one or
two ieaspoouiuls. But the proof that water
is bad for a green parrot, if YOU let the bird
feed itself, is shown by Tie fact that a parrot
which has been getting along finely for a
whole week without water, bHt with plenty
of green food, which contains al tae water
% requires, win get dyscniery or some other
trouble directly 10 is allowed % swil al u
wants
Parrots are reckless feeders, them"
"In cantiyity, yes, and that is the cause Of
most of their ailments. The birds naturally
i've on seeds and fruit, under cond tions
which permit them 10 have fresh food al al
times and plenty Of fresh air and sunlight
But uarrol in captivity is kept in state OF
chrome irritaOility by hot and improper food
coffee. meat, stale bread, sour vegetables
10 the bottom Of It's cagc-is 10 wonder that
the bird sickens, Why, tho lie OF "a parrot j
In the sunlight and the fresh fruits on The
trec,l How many people think OF summing
their parrot. a thing which ought 70 he done
every dayN
DO an the varieties require the same
carer
'Not as 90 tho temperature Of the room,
but as 70 the feeding. yes certainly. a sich
parrot is. in nine eases cut of ten, an exposed
on oyerfed parrot. The hardest of all varie'
ties is the African gray, but itshorid never be
fed with soft bread which agrees we'll Will
other parrots. The proper thing for this
bird isa diet Of water crackers plot biscuit,
hemp, ami occasionally piece Of mealy
aDple or a peanut The African parrot may
also be trusted with drinking water IN rs
cage. which H. a dangerous experiment with
the green varieties while young
There is no whistler 10 beat the African
gray. and it never screeohes. OF course this
bird comes high, because it has to come by
way Of Liverpool and New York, or round the
Horn; but il is fine pet, and, as have said,
hardy bird = good African parrot Is not
dear at so or even 500"
what other varieties come here"
''The Cuban parrot 1t is very beautiful
bird. a good talker and fair whistler. This
is delicate variety tin thoroughly accii-
mated. and is subject TO all the rules about
limited water diet There is no better food
for this parrot or for parrots generally than
PLAN boiled rice, with the gummy matter
washed of by pouring cold water on the boiled
mas 10 food should ever be left IN the cage
TO sour. san Francisco Chronicle.
MoIding Child Character.
This matter OF molding child character by
book. is not an opportunity merely. Ii Is "A
.olemn duty. You Ore it 10 your children