Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-03
BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN

"The desire for brilliant pets, clothing, and
| appointments' he explains, "has two main
causes. Both Of them lie fairly deep. One
| is the attempt of people to compensate
themselves for the loss of the emotlonal
| stimulus and the excitement of activity that
! they had during the war. Brilliance OF de-
tail in surroundings and bright colors are
an attempt to relieve the monotony Of days
that are slack and grey for most people, Col
ors are real help
| AS for the pet stores, they do not attempt
to analyze the publics sudden demand
parrots; they are too busy selling them Ac-
cording to a woman dealer, whose store is in
the West Seventies here, it is impossible to
| import the birds fast enough to supply tne
| demand. Most of the orders are for South
American and Cuban parrots, but the African
gray parros, which is famous whistler, and
has a gorgeous rose-colored tail, is also ex-
| tremely popular. Huge, magnificent macaWS
are also favorite purchase.
eff we could only breed them In this coun-
| try" said the merchant, 1--WE could make a
pile of money"
| care there no large parrot aviaries, here,
| them" we inquired.
"Not any that are ruL on commercial
basiA," she replied. "a parrot hen
hollow tree trunk in which to build
| nest, but as often not the male
parrot will destroy them. No, aside
| from that unfortunate habit, the males have
| fdlrly
deal depends upon the individual bird; who
| has owned him before you buy him, and how
he has been treated in his extreme youth.
The males are much better takers, of course,
than the females, although occasionally we
get a female who is quite vivauious.
'Why are parrots so popular? Why, they
always have been with people who were at
all acquainted with them. They make such
good companions. I myself have three OF
them at home, and wouldn't give one of
them up-they are just like members of my
| family. They're very much like human
beings and they get greatly attached to you,
showing an interest in everything you do
and always eager to be petted.'
The dealer said she knew of one gray par
rot that was extremely talkative and had an
uncanny way o? delivering its several pet
phrases at most opportune moments. 1t was
devoted to it's mistress, who fed it, and when
it received fooG from her, it kissed her hand
with it's beak and murmured, 81 kiss the
lady's hand"
''He took great interest in everything his
mistress did," continued the dealer, "and
often when h" saw her busy about anything
would inquire earnestly, We'll, what is the
lady doing there?' When she died and he
no longer saw her, he felt the loss and be-
came respondent. He practically 1uit talk
ing and could scarcely be persuaded to take
food. Often, too, he would sadden the entire
household by asking, But where is the lady
then?'
"Of course" she concluded, as she took a
green and orange bird out of it's cage and
held it on her finger, parrots have to be
taught to talk. They do not pick up of their
own accord a variety of accomplishments
An ode one here and there may do so, but the
majority require patient training. The pr1n-
cipal thing is to get them while they are yet
young, because, as with other species, it is
impossible to teach an old bird new tricks
But the training process is part of the fun
y on feel so triumphant when the bird finally
repeats the phrase you want him to-