Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-02-11
THE TALKATIVE POLLIES.
AN ENTHUSIAST PRESENTS HIS
VIEWS ON PARROTS.

Dsnrerent Kinds and where They Come
From-The Females Can Learn 20 Talk.
some Practical Hints on Parrot Dietary
and Training.
81 suppose you know that every ship from
the isthmns lands at least score Of parrots
IN San Francisco said an enthusiastic bird
tanner to a reporter lately.
"What becomes Of themT
al believe most OF them die within month
for want OF proper care, and very few OF the
rest learn to talk II wouldn't be an exag-
reration TO say that half the population Of
San Francisco has tried its baud at parrot
keeping: but a good talking bird is as rare as
ever, and will always command high price.
OF course all the parrots don't come from the
isthmus or the coast towns where he steam
ers call; but enough come from these points
at low figure 10 make it well worth while
for man 10 undertake the business OF train
ing and acclimatizing them. You can get
young parrot at Corento or Acapulco, or at
almost any Central American port, for five
pesos about 50, that viii be worth $50 or
400 when properly taught lt's easy enough
when you know the way"
"Some varieties are better than others, are
they notF'
eyes, but practically any parrot can be
trained 70 talk If you commence when the
bird is young There is common but fool
ish notion that il is only the male birds that
talk AS a matter Of fact, there is no more
difference in this respect than in the human
species The hen parrot can do her share OF
talking"
WHAT THEY Eat
$40 the different kinds OF parrots require
different foodr
'Certainly; that is one Of the secrets Let
me describe TO you here the kinds Of parrot
commonly met with in this country. OF
course, you know they are Rll imported and
aoclimatized, the bird being strictly tropical
in its natural habitat. The Mexican double
yellow head parrots are among the best
birds We got; they have better talking
power, greater sharpness in picking up words
and tricks, and a more pleasing, human like
voice than the other varieties. They are also
quick To become attached to their owners,
and 70 make strangers feed like strangers,
which is one Of the chief charms of parrot
for the average man or woman. That's hui
man nature, isn't itf If parrot viii take 70
everybody the owner has no use for it. This
variety has another good quality-that OF
fearlessness. A Mexican double yellow head
parrot will convince any cat IN about two
minutes that distance lends both enchant-
ment and safety 10 the view AS TO what
these birds can learn, / win only say that
they have been taught 20 initiate all the ami
mals in the barnyard-the rooster, the dog,
tho pigs, the pea hens, the turkeys; they can
be made to repeat half dozen letters OF the
alphabet correctly in succession, spell words,
and as to swearing viii pick up 'cuss'
words us quick as any i0year-old gamin in
Tar Flat
"Are these birds the ones which die of so
fast"
ayes, because they are the most sensitive
Of all parrots. They require special care the
first winter, and should be kept warm and
out OF the draught just here I will give
you a pointer. II you put monkey, an ant
eater, a parrot or any tropical animal in a
draught Of air--as, for instance, by opening
the window ia a room whore a fire is burning
you are going TO lose your pet. It will
/ catch cold and die as surely as Il you had
put it in refrigerator car
"Then the imported parrots die Of coldp
"Not all Of them. II is not really cold
enough in San Francisco 20 kill parrot
even on a cold day, but draughts are fatal
in summer and winter alike. The real trouble
people have ia raising parrots is because they
will not try TO believe that the birds gel
along much better 40 first without drinking
water. If you set a vessel Of water near q
freshly imported parrot, however healthy, il
viii drink itself 70 death; that's what
mean.
DRINKING WATER.
''Then you would give them no water al
anm
'.Not exactly that A little water may bi
/ given to a young bird every day; say one OF
two teaspoonfuls But the proof that watei
is bad for green parrot, if you lot the Dir.
feed itself, is shown by the fact that parro
/ which has been getting along finely for
1 whole week without water but with plent'
| of green food, which contains all the waite
it requires, will get dysentery or some othe
trouble directly il is allowed TO swill all i
waies.n
Parrots are reckless feeders, then"
''In captivity, yes, and that is the cause o
most OF their ailments. The birds naturall
live on seeds and fruit, under condition
which permit them TO have fresh food at al
times, aud plenty OF fresh sir and sunlight
But parrot in captivity is kept in state O
chronic irritability by hot and improper foo
coffee, meat, stale bread, sour vegetable
at the bottom Of it's cage-is It a wonder tina
the bird sickensl Why, the life of q parrot
in the sunlight and the fresh fruits on tn
treesl How many people think Of sunnin
their parrot, thing which ought TO be don
every dayr
''Do all the varieties require the sam
careF
"Not as to the temperature Of the room
but as to the feeding, yes, certainly. A sic
parrot is, in nine cases out Of ten, an expose
or overfed parrot. The hardest Of all vari
ties is the African gray, but itshould never
fed with soft bread, which agrees well wit
other parrots. The proper thing for III
bird Is diet Of water crackers, pilot biscui
hemp, and occasionally a piece Of meal
apple or peanut. The African parrot ma
also be trusted with drinking water in !
cage, which is a dangerous experiment vii
the green varieties while young.
"There is no whistler TO beat the Africa
gray, and it never screeches. OF course til
bird comes high, because it has to come
:. way Of Liverpool and New York, or round q
Horn; but it Is fine pet, and, as have sal
I, a hardy bird. A good African parrot IS n
/. dear at go or even Sl00n
= "What other varieties come heref
! "The Cuban parrot. It IS very beautif
bird, good talker and fair whistler II
is a delicate variety till thoroughly acc
mated, and is subject to all the rules aho
q limited water diet. There is no better fo'
4. for this parrot or for parrots generally thu
s plain boiled rice, with the gummy matt
te washed of by pouring cold water on the boil
.s mass. No food should ever he left in the ca
J. 70 sour.n-San Francisco Chronicle