The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-28
BIRDS THAT THINK AND TALK.
Gay Parrots from Africa with Many
Accomplishments.
From the New York Sun.


From the New York Sun.
Parrots that talk are common; par
rots that thing as we'll as talk, and are
able to carry on an intelligent CONVEX
sation, are rare. Many bird trainers
do not believe that parrots can be
taught to think. They stick to the old
idea that parrot conversation is a pure
ly mechanical process. and not the re-
suit of thought or observation,
In what is probably the most re-
markable collection of live birds in
this city at the present time are three
African gray parrots of extraordinary
intelligence, one of which can, and
does, carry on conversations with it's
owner and the members of his family.
The other two are not so well devel-
oped as the star of the collection, but
they are still undergoing their educa-
ton, and when they are as old are ex-
pected to duplicate the performance Of
the COMMANDMENTS Chief, which is the
title by which the big gray is known.
The collection of birds which con-
tains these three remarkable parrots
is the property of dealer who has
made a speciality of training parrots
and other birds for people of wealth.
He doesn't train them to hop through
rings, or to pull around gilded char
lots after the fashion of the birds of
the stage. He just teaches them TO
talk and sing and to do 1t like an or
binary person and not like the old
maid variety of green parrot, of which
several thousands suspended from rear
windows in this city help to make life
a little harder to bear.
The Commander-in-Chief of the out
fit, which in conversation is referred
to just as Commander, is the most
splendid example of parrot training in
this country, and its owner says it cam
not be duplicated anywhere, not even
in Africa, where the education of gray
parrots begins when they are mere
nesting. Anybody in this town who
has got 81 900 to invest in a parrot can
get the Commander for that price.
According to it's owner there are a
great many people in the world who
have paid as much for highly educat-
ed gray parrots, and he says he would
demand at least $500 more for Com
mander if it wasn't for the fact that
his other two African grays, Gen.
eral and Senator Morgan, are coming
fast and will also be ready for the
market soon.
In it's present condition General can
be had for $500, and 5000 will purchase
Senator Morgan, so-called because
nothing short of a gag will stop it
when once it gets to talking. Two hum
bred dollars will also buy the Colonel,
a fourth gray, of modest attachments
as yet Its inclination toward liam
boyant oratory is said to be RESPONSE
BILE for its name, after well known
citizen of Lincoln, Neb.
Few people in this city know that
parrots command such high prices, but
the owner of this collection says that
there is nearly million dollars invest
ed in parrots in this city alone, and
that he can sell 81 900 parrots just as
fast as he can train. them to a point
where they are worth so much.
The great Commander, like all the
African grays is without a break in
its soft color, save at the tail, where
it is a brilliant red. 1t Is a born wit
and as fond of joke as monkey.
Nevertheless when occasion demands
it can get down to steady. sober con-
versation and can sustain its end with
dignity. Persons who do not believe
that parrots can do their own think
ing would change their views after a
brief acquaintance with Commander.
Commander recently took to saying
things that were slightly off color,
and its owners female servant decid-
ed that it should do penance by re-
PtdlniS a prayer 81 IidIAy LILIES EACH
day. So she proceeded to teach it that
gem of the nursery. beginning, Now
l lay me down to sleep"
Commander" she said, you are to
learn this prayer: Now hay me down
TO sleep"
Not much" retorted Commander.
You can't lay me down to sleep at
this time OF the day"
II this is not sufficient to convince
one that this parrot does It's own
thinking, its remark "A little later on
the same occasion ought 10 6ynch the
matter. When the maid said: Il pray
the Lord my soul 10 keep" Command
err broke In with:
Keep II for what?"
When demonstrated with. Il Is al
legged 90 have said:
We'll, III keep my own soul. thank
you"
on another occasion this same maid
entered "a room coughing. whsreupon
Comma nder remarked:
Wei, Annie. that's q bad cold you've
got"
scOldsd BY its owner a short time