The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
THE SENSES OF THE PARROT
A Wonderful Bird Possessing Rare
Intelligence.

An Ideal Representative of Life in
the Jungle. as Well nv an Interest
ing Pet-Its Traits and Character
istics-DOubIe Use of the Tongue.
Ornithologists have discovered that the
parrot is a wonderful bird in more respects
than that of being able to talk. 1t has
been learned by those skilled in bird cult
that the rari-hued biped is a creature
possessing to a rare degree each of the
five senses-seeing, hearing, touching. tast-
ing, and smelling-and being ever acute as
to the significance of each.
The parrot is placed by naturalists at
the head of the bird creation. nor is this
on account of it's vocal capacity. but be
cause of its Intellectual superiority and
its 'adaptabillty TO circumstances.
a clever journalistic writer has recently
shown the close relation between the pos
session on the part of an animal of an
organ, or organs, by which it is enabled
to judge rightly of the relation of objects
and the mental status of that animal. In
addition to their prehensile feet. which
are nearly rs highly developed as human
hands. parrots are provided with high
ly developed prehensile bill, and within it
a tongue which acts in reality as an organ
of touch. But this is not all. The parrot
alone. among all BIRDS has the power of
moving the upper as well as the lower
jaw. a popularity very noticeable when
il gapes exactly like a human being. 1t
is this strange mobility of both the man
dibes at he same time. cGmbined with
the crafty effect Of the sidelong glance
from those artful eyes, that gives the
characteristic air of intelligence and wis
dom to the parrots face. One naturally
expects so clever a bird to speak and
when ii turns suddenly with some appro-
pirate remark no surprise is occasioned.
The exquisite sensibility of the parrot
TO the slightest sound or movement in its
vicinity, or even at some considerable
distance, suggests its life in its native
forest. The way the bird holds piece of
fruit or meat bone in one claw. while
he strips OF the rind or the meat dex-
trously with the lower mandibie, keep
ing a sharp lookout meanwhile for pos
sibIe intruder, conveys the whole story
of life in the jungle better than Kipling
has. One sees in that act the watchful
monkey. ever ready to swoop down upon
the dainty plumage of the parrot, who
ever and anon changes his position on his
perch as IL he felt himself upon the
spreading bow of a tree and desired to
foliage.
The African grey parrot is in many
respects the most remarkable and highly
bred in the world. Though not arrayed
in such gorgeous attire as his brethren
in other parts of the world. his sober
suit of grey being merely enlivened by
his cardinal red tail, he is a strikingly
handsome bird. Seen in apartment
shaded from the glare of day, he is
neither beautiful nor gaudy, but when the
sunlight quivers upon his plumage the
contrast between the exquisite pearl grey
and glowing blood red is both rich and
gorgeous. 1t is then also observed that
the delicately tinted feathers, from a
microscopic minuteness on the Head to
feathers several inches on the tail. are of
a texture that is rarely seen on any other
bird.
The discovery of a new species of par
rot is, even at this late day, no uncom-
mon event in the scientific world The
common belief that parrots are exclusive
Iy tropical birds is mistake, though
most, if not ALL varieties introduced as
pets are from the tropical regions In
this country, the Carolina parrakeet. at
the beginning OF the past century, used
to range in summer as high as the shores
of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. and even
"ithAii inc ldSl iortE years II Fedcned,
according to trustworthy accounts the |
junction Of the Ohio and Mississippi riv- |
ers, though it is doubtful if parrots have |
since been found in their wild state above |
the Gulf States.
1t may be remarked that, with all its |
nigh intelligence. no parrot has vet laid |
claim to being a saint. The moral de- |
hclencies and reckless animal spirits OF !
the bird Were commented on by the phil |
osophers of old Rome in the DAYS of Ne |
70, VINO caused numbers OF parrots to be |
imported from upper Egypt. They he |
came a very fashionable pet I'm Rome, |
and were lodged in cages of tortoise shell |
and ivory, with silver wires, but they |
were professedly esteemed as delicacies |
Tor the table. and one Emperor is said to /
have led his lions upon them, Just as |
Eltellus caused to have prepared a dish |
composed of the brains of ten thousand |
peacocks. The beauty of the parrot has |
been sung by some of the foremost Ro-
man poets.