The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-08
BIRDS THAT THINK AND TALK.
GRAY PARROTS FROM AFRICA
WITH MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
One in This city Can carry on Intelligent
Conv ersation-Carefui Training Has
Made IL Almost Human-Ministers'
wives and Swearing Parrots-High
Prices Paid for Some Birds.

Prices Paid for Some Birds.
Parrots that talk are common; parrots
that think as well as talk, and are able to
carry on an intelligent conversation, are
rare. Many bird trainers do not believe
that parrots can be taught to think. They
stiek to the old idea that parrot converse
ton is a purely mechanical process, and
not he result OF thought or observation.
In what Is probably the most remarkable
collection Of live birds in this city at the
present time are three African gray par
rots Of extraordinary intelligence, one OF
which can, and does. carry on conversations
with its owner and the members Of his fam
fly. The other two are not 30 well de-
veloped as the star Of the collection. but
they are still undergoing their education.
and when they are as old are expected to
duplicate the performance OF the Com
mander in Chief. which il the title by which
the big gray is known.
The collection of birds which contains
these three remarkable parrots Is the
property Of a dealer who has made q spe-
cialty of training parrots and other birds
for people OF wealth. He doesn't train
them to hop through rings. or to pull around
gilded chariots, after the fashion OF the
birds Of the stage. He Just teaches them to
talk and sing. and TO do IL like an ordinary
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 lie little harder 10 bear.
The Commander in Chief of the outfit.
which in conversat ion il referred to just an
Commander. is the most splendid example
81 parrot raining ia this country. and its
own,r says il cannot I've duplicated any
where. not even in Africa, where the educa-
ton of0yray parrots begins when they are
mere nestlings. Anybody in this town
who has got 81 900 10 invest in a parrot
can get the Commander for that price.
According to its owner there are u great
many people IN the world who have paid
o. much for highly educated gray parrots.
asd he says he would demand AZ least 500
more for Commander il II wasn't for tl,s
fact that his other two African grays, Gen
sfsl and senator Morgan, are coming fast
and will also be ready for ths ma rksi soon
In it, present condition GENERAL can be
hal for ssDo. and $50 will purchase SENATOR
Morgan, - called tsncau-. nothing short ~
o gag will rtopit when once u gets - talking
Two hundr-d dollars Will also buy the Cob
osei. q fourth gray. ~ mo'ie-i attaiurn.nts
o. yei It, innlinal iun toward nsmboyant
orsiory u aid Ia b- rsspOhsilie fof It, name
sftsr o we'll kno~n rit,x~n al l.ino~Jln, N.b
Pea Irsopla "a this aily know that parrots
command such hish pT.o.- lui IA. oSnsI
of this oOlls-slnn .ays that th.I. u b.afiy
. millioh dollsf- Invested ii IAafrols IA IA.
eos aioi.s. aud that b. sat srli ni.. -ll,.,
ssad-d,llsf I.arruas Iu., - fasl a. l.s u.h
49, -. aasIf
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