The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-08
Po1JvsooF OF BRAINS.
Ona R,-a .ssst, That Selects Der
pn-of Proper Occas' ons.
Nstr Vovk EZ.r,I1

IL one Bird, q. p-H- 0.N 40
Neio York Herald.
IA Tbs, r..hink have no manner O
n. dopbt Toie past four years 1 hav
a owned -. ,,1g parrot. The result Of M
be observati' has been that one parrot, a
es least is Jwed with reasoning facultie
TO n a sang degree.
/ Tha fwing narrative Of Polly's doing
IN and 50 3 is an unad0rned, plain state
Nv ,,' 49, Acts, devoid of all exaggeration o.
al anbs ,ment make this preiminar,
is statsIt because there is a disposition &
10 rece with considerable salt the most seri
re- ous erances Of writers Of presumably
5. hnT Gus fiction, and, in the next place
a soIof the remarks OF my parrot berray {
e err degree of intelligence than is usually
4 g edited 10 feathered bipeis.
V silly was purchased for $12 at a bird
/ re on the Bowery. She is what is known
Il "a double-headed Mexican" the head
9 Id neck being a bright yellow aud the tai
s nd wings tipped with red. Toe rest of bel
a0ody is Of dark green color.
q For several weeks after Polly became
a member of my family serious apprehen,
sions as to her conversational abilities were
entertained, for she was as silent as old Gen
Moltke himself, when we were startled by
her singing In clear, ringing voice:
o, you girls, you giddy young girls!
Polly had not resided on the Bowery with
out paying attention to her surroundings
1t seems this was the first line Of a popular
refrain. The proximity of a concert hall &c
tue bird explains how the parrot had come
to acquire the words and music.
After this Polly began to make great
progress She ipltated the sad wall of the
midnight cat on the fence in the back yard
SO perfectly that skye terrier, "Dudle" by
name, ran yelping through the house hunt.
ing for toe supposed feline. Dudes" sub,
sequent discussions with cats were initiated
to perfection, the bow-wows and the meows
Of the parrot not being distinguishable from
the real article.
The warwhoop of our milkman-I lived
in Harlem at the time-and that of neigh.
boris milkman, WHO emitted a sort of dOu-
ble-barreled whoop, were faithfully repro
duced, as was the whistle of the letter
carrier, which is the most difficult sound
she has ever mastered. This feathered
photograph also learned to sing in perfect
time the words, "Peskaboo, see you" and
1.-THE Flowers that Bloom in the Spring,
the latter being the longest continues sen
tence she has ever been able to
master. She can, however, initiate
me calling the dog, Nhistling and
saying, Come here, you Dudew
When we first got the parrot it became
customary at meal times to ask polly
want sonep From thai day to the present
time, whenever Polly sees anybody eating,
sue calls out: "Want soma. Polly want
some" Having been fed with crackers
from a paper bag, whenever she sees a
paper bag she connects it with eating, and
says, "Polly wants some" as she does when
she hears nuts being cracked or sees orange:
or apples.
This is certainly something more than
what is commonly called instinct" Ii
shows the exercise to a certain extent Of the
reasoning faculty.
Perhaps the most convincing proof that
parrots have the ability to associate ideas il
to be found in Polly's use of the word
"good-by." When any member of the
family puts on a coat or a hat, Polly will
invariably exclaim 'Good-bym She inferc
that the person is. actually going out, be-
cause she has heard that expression used
when hat or wrap was put on. Even the
use Of the words "golng out" in converse
tion impels the parrot to say "good-byr
When a person enters the room Polly calls
out "Hellom having heard the word fire.
quently used under similar circumstances
Very rarely is "hellor' improperly subs.i.
tuted for "good-by" This certainly show:
a correct association of ideas and Is mo-
what is generally understood as ''parro
talk
This parrot has unmistakable persona
likes and dislikes. While it is, and Away
has been dangerous for one person to touct
the bird, another can handle her at al
times 18th perfect IMMUNITY, she holding
out her head to be scratched and encourag
ing other f nIilIarities. Toward myself
Polly has maintained an attitude of un
hroken hostility for four years. The Origin
of her luminosity was my pulling and sud
denly letting go rubber band, the othe
end Of which Polly had in her beak. Tim
and again have tried to make up, but il
vain. Quite recently Polly bit triangula
piece out OF my hand aud there is no hop,
of any future reconciliation. 1t seems G.
be another case of Hill and Cleveland.
Among the traits of parrots may be men.
toned professionally jealousy" Thinking
might have twice as much amusement i
had two parrots l procured a second one
No two rival opera singers could have show
more animos ty toward each other. Poll,
refused to converse as long as the other par
rot was In the house and had to get rid 0
the other one, after which the gratifed bIrt
resumed Ter former lcquacity.
Parrots will eat great variety of food
but the one am describing objects to dry
bread or cake. On receiving q piece Of
cracker Polly will carry it with great delib
Grafton to the cup of water and hold it il
the water until it is thoroughly soaked be
fore attempting to eat it. Birds are no
supposed to be as intelligent as dogs, bu
the parrot soaking food TO make it more
palatable shows as much intelligence a.
the dog that buries piece of meat for tbs
same purpose.
Parrots have a sense of malicious humor
When Polly has succeeded In biting tn;
fl ger Of any one she dislikes, there is NJ
doubt she rejoices over her triumph, for sh,
laughs distinctly hooking laugh, whic,
says as plainly as words: Hal ! G & ever
with you that timer She, moreover, dis
plays mechanical skill in dislodging her feeC
cup from the cage, and when it falls to tn
ground with a chatter she laughs ant
cbuckles as if she realized that she mad per
petrated practical joke.