A GOSSIP ABOUT PARROTS.

BY W. KIDD (OF HAMMERSMITH).

FROM the immense numbers of parrots that are landed in England every year, it is only fair to infer that "Pretty Polly" is a general favourite. This may arise from a multitude of causes, amongst which we may set down the affection of these creatures as the principal. They are, when properly treated, the fondest of the fond, and excellent company. And what a deal they have to say for themselves, and for everybody else! There cannot be much ennui where they are.

In my wide professional wanderings as a lecturer, I take particular notice of parrots being found in invalids' rooms. Here they are specially "at home.” Their master or mistress sets a high value on them, and they are on all occasions treated as friends. And could there be a heartier friend, a more lively companion, or more quaintly humorous jester? I think not. Of all queer noises, his is the queerest. Of all interpolations on the English language, his are the funniest. His screams, how real they are! His vernacular, how bold! Very saucy he is, too; and he generally gets the best of it, if the case goes to argument.

Leaving everybody to choose from the large family of parrots the bird they like best-from the lovely little grass parakeet to the stately king parrot-I would speak of the grey parrot par excellence. He is the bird to "talk." And more than this, he is teachable, affectionate, intelligent, and the best of mimics. He is a native of Guinea. He is strong and robust, when well treated and properly fed.

Be sure to procure a young bird. To a certain extent he will be free from blemishes in speech. He will not have had time to learn much that is improper, and you will the more readily be

able to correct him when he does offend in this way. Being a very imitative bird, and the captains who bring them over not being exactly polished men, the loose language of the latter is too frequently adopted, and forms part of "Polly's" vocabulary. Before, however, I proceed to give instructions for teaching the art of "talking," let me speak of the proper sort of cage and general food.

All birds, the parrot tribe particularly, like and require a roomy habitation. Without space for air and exercise, how can any animal thrive or be happy? Let the cage be a circular one, large and strong, with a swing in it; and pay a fair price, that you may secure a well-made article. Stinginess is miserable economy. See that the perches be adapted to the feet of the bird, and that he can get easy access to his pans of food and water. Always keep the cage sweet and dry.

Vary the food of the bird as much as possible. With birds, as with ourselves, there is nothing like an alterative diet. They arevery fond of dry biscuit or sweet cake. They will also eat canaryseed and grits. These last are very excellent diet. Hemp should. be given sparingly. It is very heating, and brings on fever if eaten in excess. Stale crumb of bread (fine wheaten bread) soaked for a moment or two in water, and afterwards well squeezed, should be their staple food. Figs, raisins, blanched almonds, apples, and fruit of all kinds, may be given in turn. Let their drinking water, as well as their soaked bread, be supplied fresh twice a day; and, in the summer, give them a large square earthenware bath, obtainable of any bird-dealer. Animal food should be strictly prohibited; never let them taste it. Use vessels of glass or white ware in preference to tin; and be sure to keep the bird's tray covered deeply with fresh coarse gravelly sand.

Feed your bird yourself, whenever you can do so. Neither master nor mistress should delegate this to a servant or child.

Never let visitors tease the bird, or annoy it by bawling out a number of rude expressions in its ear. Some people have a habit, a very perverse one, of stirring parrots up with a stick or parasol. This sets them screaming and howling. If unprovoked, and not trifled with, parrots rarely show a disposition to bite; nor is their temper at all a savage one. They are naturally of a friendly disposition, delight in being fondled, and return love for love. Schoolboys are a terror to them. They intuitively smell them out, and show fight on their approach. Sagacious birds are parrots-very! They like children best at a very remote distance.

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In spring and summer, indeed at any season of the year, you let "Poll" out for a flight in the room. Exercise does them good. Only beware of the scurf that they scatter about, when freely using their wings. Choose any other time than meal-time for giving them their liberty. Parrots like sunshine. They come from a warm latitude, and should not therefore be exposed to cold air or draughts. If they do not readily use the bath, water them all over with the fine rose of a garden watering-pot. Washed they must be, and they soon learn to like the operation. Preening themselves is a favourite occupation. It keeps them clean and in fine feather.

Nature never intended that parrots should live confined in cages. This is proved by the multitude of ailments to which they are subject in this country, and from some of which they never recover. They get gouty feet, become irritable, are liable to fits and convulsions, lose their feathers, and pick themselves till they are a mass of mutilated deformity. Confinement and improper diet are the causes of all this. Nothing can be a better preventive than keeping your bird merry and happy, washing him regularly, and not overfeeding him. If he once gets an irritation on his skin, and draws blood while picking himself, he will keep on picking himself till he is a horrible spectacle to behold. Death will soon

close the picture. This is why I forbid animal food in any form. Once tasted, a thirst for blood has been created, and will never cease. Parrots, like all other animals, have their parasites. These pediculi annoy them dreadfully, and can only be kept down in number by the free and constant use of the bath. Warmth, cleanliness, proper diet, and exercise-these are indispensables. In spring, give them occasionally a few green pods of the radish; in summer, some nasturtiums, or green capsicums; chillies are also a capital stomachic. But I come now to the grand point-how to teach a parrot to talk. Of course, you must tame him first.

Common-sense people, who study nature, rarely find any difficulty in making friends with anything, or anybody. If there appear to be a marvellous distance placed between man and the lower world, it is not so in reality. Wild animals are equally accessible to kindness as domestic animals; but we approach them with doubt and reserve, and therefore fail in our object. The animals look at us and stare at us-well they may; and, trotting off or flying off, as the case may be, they decline our acquaintance. I am happy to say that I have long since learnt the happy art of taming or teaching anything; but I must on the present occasion. confine myself to the parrot-an apt scholar in skiful hands.

Consider the parrot to be a very young child, and begin with the primer. One short sentence to begin with, kindly uttered, will be ample. For instance, when you come down to breakfast, say, "Good morning, dear." Say nothing else, until the bird has not only learnt the words, but the meaning of them: uttered only in the morning, and at the breakfast hour, time and circumstance will be recognized: he will greet you with "good morning!" Next, at bedtime, say, when covering up the cage with a wrapper, "Good night, darling." Repeat this regularly, and mark the consequence: "good night" will be Polly's last words. Here is the key to the whole secret. A parrot so taught is worth ten thousand

parrots who rattle away all day long, saying they know not what Their enunciation may be clear, but their intelligence-what and where is it? They are noisy caricatures, nothing more. Gibberish is there stock in trade, and vulgarity their credentials.

It is vain for people to tell us birds are not intelligent. I have some choice pets now-little creatures, truly-but they are well aware of all that is going forward, and take a lively interest in passing matters. Their expressive notes give charming indication of their individual feelings. I know precisely what they want, and I never fail to humour them in their harmless fancies. What love do I not receive in return!

Having taught your parrot as many sentences as she can well understand, be sure and rehearse them with the bird from time to time, lest she should forget them. Her attitudes, droll looks, deep guttural expressions of fun, and eager desire to say her lessons perfectly, will fill you with unceasing merriment. Observing the delight you take in her, she will take as special pains to keep you amused.

What can be more charming than to hear a parrot say, "Goodby, Mary, dear. Don't be out long. Polly will be so glad when you come back!" I have heard this, and many other sentences equally expressive, uttered; but the birds had in every case been lovingly taught, and in the manner I recommend.

I hope my readers will be equally successful in teaching their parrots to talk.

A GOSSIP ABOUT CANARIES.

6

BY W. KIDD, AUTHOR OF NATURAL HISTORY OF SONG BIRDS.' WE have had a gossip about parrots. Now for a gossip about other birds in confinement-premising that the canary is a lawful