The morning call., 1893-09-10
PARROTS.
An Occupation Attended
With Danger.
WHERE THEY ARE FOUND.
Taken When Young From Almost
inaccessible Nests in the nidst
of Tropical Jungles.

lungles of the La Cruz River bottoms in
Mexico and rem aims three mon tbs to make
catch of as many hundred birds takes
his life in his hands. He is exposed to
waylaying poems. who hate Americans in
stinctively, he must ever be on the alert
against night surprise by wild beasts, he
may catch violent fever and perish unat-
tended, or he may be eaten up by orme-
goes, which are Mexican forest ants with
a bloodthirsty record.
Thrse hundred parrots are worth on an
average S12 apiece, which is $500. From
that deduct the wages of half a dozen
Mexican vagabnnds who go along as tree
climbers, the keep of five burros, the
freight, and the residue goes into the
pocket of the venturesome parrot-hunter
or the dealer who employs him.
The parrot builds no nest. The female
selects deep hollow in the highest tree
trunks and there lays two eggs. This oc-
ours about May 1. The young are hatched
about June Is. ten days elapse before they
can open their eyes, and several weeks
must be allowed for the young birds to
outgrow their swab state and gain sufi-
clent strength to be removed from the care
OF their parents.
The parrot is willy and wise bird. 1t
lays its eggs safely out of reach of ordinary
danger and takes good care lot to betray
their whereabouts. When the birds are
Matched they are fed twice day by their
elders, early in the morning ana again
about the close of day. and this operation
usually betrsys to the hunter tie where
ab0uts of his prey.
The birds, in feeding their young, give
vent 10 series of cUntented cluckS and
chuckles, which is answered by the young
ones. and which infallibly indicates to the
parr0t-hunter where the nest is hidden.
~ fa mo fau wi ho
danger will himself undertake to climb
the tree and capture the young birds, says
writer for an Eastern journal.
That Is the work reserved for the Mexi-
can poems who accompany him. There is
no danger from the parent birds, but al
most every tree is guarded by colony of
ormeg0es. which penetrate any kind of
clothing and viciously attack the flesh be-
meath 1t, being known to destroy large
numbers of young parrots.
The suffering of the poems from the at
tack of the Mexican ants, in their ascent
of trees in search of parrots, is sometimes
pitlful. Their breasts are frequently COW
cred with blood, and in their agony they
fairly tear their clothing from their bodies,
and cast themselves on the ground, weep
ing and moaning. Oftentimes the effect is
TO nauSeate them, so terrible is their suf-
fering. If, as their master, one showed
tile slightest sympathy for their condition
they would refuse to go up again, but un-
der the pitiable condition of Serfdom ID
Mexico these men are no better than
| slaves, compelled to do what they are bid
den, regardless of life or limb.
1t is fortunate If, when a peon is nearly
tievoured by ants, he is within easy reach
of water in which to battle himself and
assuage his agony. As the parrots always
hatch their yOun ng where water is plenty,
1t rarely happens that the suffering peon
cannot avail himself of natures palliative
at first hand.
This experience is something that no
civilized white man would endure, and
which of itself deters many jungle hunters
from engaging in the exciting sport of
parrot-hunting.
One interesting peculia rity of these ferc-
cious forest ants is that myriadS of them
move in solid column from tree TO tree,
carrying a leaf in an upright position at
the head OF the procession like banner,
and resembling in their self-conscious prog
ress conQueriDg army on a march of
invasion.
The finest parrot country in Mexico is
about tie wooded bottoms of the La Cruz
River. in the province CT Tamauiipas, on
the east coast.
It's "a wild, picturesque region of swamps,
juDgles and savannahs, here and there in
terpunctuated with solitary hacienda,
where 800 or 400 poems are at work, for
the country. despite its savage aspect. is
very fertile. Here. 800 miles south of
Matamor0S, the nearest American settle
ment, Is the spot where your pet parrot
probably FIRST opened its eyes to the light
of day, stealing through the branches o
the ebony and coma trees, amid surround
ings that might to an imaginary Polly sug-
gest the first dawn of creation.
The forests in this region abound in all
kinds Of birds of rich plumage as we'll as
ravenous beasts. Parrakeets are so
abundant that what with the screeching
aud eawing of parrots. 1t is sometimes i'm
possible to hear ones own voice.
Hunters do not trouble themselves to Sc
cure them, however, as they are not worth
carrying TO market
There are some fine species OF macaws.
parrot of unusually splendidlplumage that
nest in the Sierra MadFe Mountains, but
can De seen almost any time winging their
ways over the tree tops. As the never
learn to articulate they are not much sought
by hunters.
double yellow head. This bird retalls for
from S12 to $40. and is surpassed in popu-
lar esteem ouy by the species which
fanelers denominate the African gray,
which is sold at an average price of S25.
The Mexican bird is green, with col
ored head and shoulders. There are two
kinds OF Mexican parrots, both of which
are abundant on the La Cruz. but which
ale held in far different esteem. If aDy
one offers to sell you green parrot with
a red crown, don't buy it.
The only Mexican parrot that is in gen.
eral demand as talking pet is the double
yellow head. which with age dsveIops a
yellow hood that extends com pletely over
the head and shoulders.
The difference between this bird and the
African gray is that the American learns
to talk earlier than the bird from the Dark
continent, but Is surpassed by the latter in
intelligence, while at the same time he is
an expert whistler and often learns to pipe
tune. The difference in gross is very
slight, however. and in a practical sense
the Mexican parrot is a popular biped and
sells two to one as compared with his Afri-
can rival.
TO avoid the ormegoes as far as possible
and facilitate clim bing. the Mexicans use
r0res, which they cast from one limb to
another. and by which they ascend to the
hollows where the young parrots are
nesting.
At the first sign of danger the parent
birds artlculate sharp cry OF alarm, and
the chuckling young fedgIings as sud-
! denly cease their noise as IL an electric
| shock had paralyzsd them. After the cap
ture of the young the old ones fly about
the camp and utter this warning cry, at
iai, raj