New-York tribune., 1906-02-25
ODD WAYS OF PARROTS
The Secret of Teaching Them to
Sing and TaIk-Their Playthings.

nOf all birds parrots are the most sensitive
to affection or indifference and take the mos.
violent likes and dislikes for human beings
said the woman bird doctor to her Visitor.
.rake Polly Sheffield for instance. that beau
ttful African gray. with the brilliant scarlet ta
She is creature Of fierce loves and hates.
Polly at the mopent was lying fiat on her
back on the bottom OF the cage and noidins
sIoft in her claws a small china DOLL which she
inspected with the utmost gravity The piro
doctors parrots all have china dolls to play
with ana amuse themselves with them for
hours. One big green bird never goes to sleep
without his doll grasped In one claw.
Polly Shef1eld on seeing the doctor approach,
dropped her doll, rose hastily and presented her
bill for kiss The doctor took no notice OF her
and went talking.
After a while Polly plucked her sleeve and
said ins;nuating1y "Give us kiss" Still re-
oeiving no attention. Polly reflected for time
and then gurgied mournfully. Poor Polly sick
The doctor yielded to this and put down her
face to Polly with laugh. Polly kissed her on
the mouth then presented the top OF her head
and said. coaxingly. Scratch head"
That Polly Sheffield Is strictly discriminating
In her affection proved by her vicious peck
ct finger cautiously advanced by the visitor
and by the vigor with which she seized a pencil
advanced peace offering, broke it viciously
IN two, threw the pieces on the ground and
glared at the intruder. It was through her bad
disposition that Polly first under the doc
tors care. She took strong dislike to her
mistress, and one day set her beak IN the lat
ter's finger. To force her to let go Pollys neck
had nearly to be twisted off, and she came to
the hospital with her head lying around
wing and an extremely stiff neck During her
illness she slept in basket on the bird doc
tors bed a custom which she insists on retain
ing. At 10 1870 every night she toddles
down the long hall into the doctors bedroom,
where she perches the footboard and waits
patiently to go to bed. When the doctor brings
blanket Polly hops over and gravely assists
her, pulling at the blanket with her BILL In
the morning Polly's little gray head is stuck
out from the towel which covers her and she
pipes cheerfully, Good morning sweetheart"
When she toddles out to breakfast she will
murmur contentedly, Pretty Polly take
walk
In teaching the birds to talk. the doctor begins
by invariably associating an act with word.
in the morning without a cheerful Good morn
ing from the attendant. In the same way all
coverings are put Oh The birds soon learn the
words and their meaning. The doctor never
goes out without coming into the aviary in her
'peekaboo" with them by lifting q corner OF the
cage covering and calling "Peekaboo." After
they have learned ''Peekaboo' 1t is easy to
attach II you TO the phrase all other words
coming easier after the first is learned.
After "Peekaboo 1 see you' can be spoken it
is comparatively easy to teach them to sing it,
and after they have learned the tune they can
be taught to whistle It. The doctor and her
sister have had remarkable SUCCESS In teaching
birds to sing and whistle tunes from instru-
ments. taking ono bird alone and playing the
tune over and again upon the guitar or
flute. Polly Sheffield whistles over the Fence
and Out" and Pop Goes the Weasel" in a
most accomplished manner. Parrots are like
children. Some words they catch easily others
with difficulty. stately green bird named
Loretta had Yankee Doodle sung over and
over to her. but she could learn only one line,
Stuck feather in his cap" When the singer
reaches this line Loretta Joins IN. and comes out
strong, with unique effect
Hoo Ia Ia is a Mexican parrot who named
himself. Whenever any one asked him his
name he would respond politely, Hoo Ia Ta."
Hoo Ia Ia he remains. The doctor believes that