Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-24
PITTSBURGERS' PETS.
Many Varieties of Pretty Parrots I'M
ported and Sold Here,
BESIDE OTHER KINDS OF BIRDS.
Fancy Prices Paid for Golden Plumage OF
Silvery Throats,
GUINEA PIGS, RABBITS AND PIGEONS

ing as was to be hea rd in Smithheld street
bird store yesterday afternoon would have
put to shame the most energetic sewing
circle that ever left record for chattering
in the city. Cage after cage, filled with
noisy parrots and any number of parroquets
lined the walls and filled the windows,
while each individual bird contributed to
the general melee. that was almost deafen-
ing to the uninitiated, but entirely unno-
ticej by the regular attandants. The un-
trained Cuban parrots have just arrived and
are dis cussing their new quarters in bird
language, because they are not yet
capable of discussing and cussing them,
as many parrots do, in good English.
They are pretty birds, possessed of very gay
plumage. and learn quite rapidly when an
attempt is made to teach them, which is not
done in the store. They are imported in lots
of from 5000 to TO- 900 and sold to dealers
and bird fanciers in numbers from 100 to
800, who retail them at So a piece. When
they are educated they are much more valu-
able, frequently being sold for $25.
PRICES OF SOME PETS.
All this was learned from the young lady
in attendance at the store, whose soft, quiet
voice and easy address was in direct con-
trast to the chatterboxes around her, and
whose knowledge of birds, their habits and
their lore, made her decidedly interesting, as
she continued: "We deal entirely in foreign
birds. They are of finer plumage, more ac-
customed to cages, and better singers than
domestic birds. Of the parrots the African
gray is the most desirable, it being the most
intelligent, and consequently the best con-
versationallst. When trained they sell for
S75 or $100. Next to them the yellowheads
take place, the double yellowhead and the
single yellowhead. The double yellow
is SO called because, when birding,
it has but tiny spot of yellow on its head,
but by the time it is years old it is a full.
fedged blonde, without the use of any
bleaching wash, either. The single yellow
head makes no false pretensions by coming
into the world green and afterward donning
yellow cap. 1t remains with just the tiny
bit Of gold to crown its mass of rich, glossy
green feathers. They come from Mexico
and are in great demand.
The Amazon parrot, with its pretty blue
head and wonderful, whistle, is a prime fa-
vorite. It is knowing bird, too. TIE
cockatoo is bird whose face-or rather
whose plumage-is its fortune, for it neither
whistle, sings nor talks, but it forms
bright bit of coloring in dining room or
library. The macsw is a highly colored,
magnificent creature, and boldly displays
his dressing of scarlet blue, black and
green. He comes from South America and
is an Indifferent tslker.
THE KING OF TAKERS.
But the king of talking birds is the nino.
His plumsge is somber black, with one
white feather in either wing, but what he
lacks in that line he atones for in his supe-
rior intelligence and wonderful converse
tional powers. He's vivaclous and bright,
with considerable originality about him,
and sells for $75 when educated.
THE South American sager bird and the
European startling are both pretty birds,
but those that have the readiest sale are
the tiny trained cansries that we sell dur
ing the early winter. They come from the
top of the Hartz Mountain, and are ready
to make their debut to the American public
Immediately upon their arrival, having re-
ceived their schooling and finishing in the
Old Country. They are cunning little
things, and are called st. Andreausberg
birds, and their accomplishments are varied.
They sing, whistle, initiate hand organ or
q nightingale, and do many other interest
ing little tricks Their training commences
almost as soon as their advent in this world
from the eggshell is effected. They are
then placed in a darkened room, with
ouly sufficient light to enable them
to eat, and then the instrument or voice
which they are to initiate is the only sound
they are allowed to hear. Naturally, they
break forth with their own tiny voices in
the air they are so familiar with. and when
one number is thoroughly learned another
in fon ir ha
until the little head is filled with dainty,
pretty musical airs and trills. Just before
Christmas they 20 like hot cakes, as they
make such pretty presents in tasty brass
cages, and they are not SO very expensive.
We sell them for from IS to $10."
SOME OTHER HOBBIES.
"Pigeonsl Who buys them?"
"Oh, any number of people have pigeon
hobbies, and invest largely in the tender,
soft, cooling little doves They retail al
from % to $40 pair. Guinea pigs and
rabbits delight the heart of the average
youngster. They're no earthly good only
as pets. These long-eared rabbits are the
favorites, and, like the long-stemmed roses,
cost the most money. A pair of these sell
for 81.
"Pug dogs are in continual demand ss
pets for little children. They are such good
natured dogs. One never hears of their
biting person, but they are so dreadfully
stupid. Still, we sell more Of them than we
do Of any other dog we Garry. They sell
for S6 and $40 singly, and a pair for $15.
The poodle is standard at $40, and is very
much brighter than the pug. They are apt
at learning tricks, but are sometimes very
cross. The black-and-tsn dogs, water span
iels, Mexican poodles, Newfoundlands and
Italian greyhounds are all desirable as pets,