Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-03
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Household Pets

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Parrots are very long-liyed birds.
some having been known to live more
than a century. They are very favor
tie birds with many people, d, thry
are often extremely beautiful. and
can, if reared early to DO so, learn
to speak more or less well. and also
tn MARBLE ana initiate the SOn~s of
other birds. Naturalists say that If
YOU want a part To speak very dis
umctly you should get one with a
thick. rounded tongue.
Bird.fancierS say that the very best
TODD for parrots is the crumb OF white
bread, well baked without salt. 1t
should be soaked in water, and then
a little squeezed in the hand. How.
ever excellent this food is, 1t is GER
tain that parrots, like human beings
thrive better when their aenu is a
little varied. and some students of
the subject have noticed that parrots
ted on the ahoye-named rood and that
alone often get thin and hardly have
strength enough 10 bear moultins.
1t is clear that feeding them onl!
on this food. which has very little if
any moisture in il. is not sufficient to
nourish them properly, at least dur
ing the moultinS season ana while
the feathers are growing again.
never saw parrot in better health
than one which belonged 10 lady,
who fed ii on white bread soaked in
boiled milk. having more milk than
the bread would absorb. which the
parrot drank with apparent pleasure.
1t was also given fruit when in sea
son. 1t is necessary 10 be very care
fu, that the milk is not sour.
1t is well to put some water in one
division OF the tin drawer in the cage.
and they should always be encour-
aged to battle. as this keeps them in
health and facilitates the process OF
moulting, which is very painful
The two most doclle parrots are
the ash-colored and the cream Lory.
Both these parrots live on all kinds
Of fruit and grain, and in this coun-
try they eat any of our food, prefer
ring, however, white bread soaked in
boiled milk, and fruits. These par
I rots are fond of meat but that seldom
agrees with them
The ash.colored parrot, like the
cream Lory, can learn to speak and
whistle, as well as to play tricks. As
a proof OF the talent of this particu'
lar species, the following account of
one which, being instructed on its
VOYAGE BY an old sailor had acquired
his harsh, hoarse voice so perfectly
that il was often mistaken Tor him.
Though it was afterwards given to a
Young person, and no longer heard
the voice, it never forgot the lessons
of its old master, and it was exceed
ingly amusing to hear Il pass from
soft. pleasing voice to its old hoarss
sea tone. This bird not only has q
great facility in initiating the voice
of a man, but also seems to have
wish to do so, and this wish is shown
in it's great attention, the efforts i
makes to repeat the sounds it hears
and its constant repetition OF them
for it necessarily repeats any word j
has Just learnt, and endeavors Il
make its voice heard above ever.
other. One is often surprised to hea
il say words and make sounds whicl
no one has taught it, and to which |
was not even suspected to have list
sned It seemed to practice its les
son every day till night beginnln;
again on the next morning. 1t Il
while young that it shows this Srea
facility in learning; its memory il
, then better, and the bird is altogethe
. more intelligent and docile'
, Parrots, like all birds and pets, re
, ouire care and cleanliness, and thos'
, who cannot devote time to Seems
. that they are kept in order, had BET
, ter not have them at all