Tokens of a Desirable Speaking Parrot - Signs of Health - Precautions in Buying - "Acclimatised" Birds - Transport - Treatment on Acquisition.

The species of parrot to be bought must be regulated by personal taste, special circumstances, locality, etc. Such an account as I here offer, superficial though it be, should afford the amateur with little or no knowledge of parrots sufficiently reliable information; but hereafter I shall enter upon a full account of the different groups under notice, give a thorough description of all the varieties of the species treated, and exact information concerning all their peculiarities. Here it is only necessary to glance at the general tokens which denote a desirable speaking parrot.

As in all other birds, there are in parrots certain signs of health, which one should never fail to notice at the time of purchase. Each bird must look bright and cheerful, be in possession of its natural liveliness, have smooth neatly arranged plumage, especially on the belly; the eyes must be clear, lively, not dim and dull; nostrils not wet, dirty, or stuffed, and the breastbone not sharp and prominent. The bird must not appear melancholy, sitting motionless, with disordered or puffed-out plumage, breathing short while quiet, or opening the beak to take breath. Moulting plumage, the absence of the tail, and dirty feathers, are, on the contrary, especially in excitable birds, not to be regarded as dangerous symptoms. Most parrots, on importation, have their wings clipped more or less, on one or both sides. This is certainly a great evil against which it is vain to struggle, because the clipping of the wings is done either in their native place or on board ship to prevent the escape of the birds. It is all the more to be regretted in the large speakers, for, on the one hand, it often takes years before the stumps are replaced by new feathers, and, on the other, the parrots, thus deprived of their feathers, require especially careful, and, above all, competent treatment. Only when such a bird appears perfectly healthy and fat may it be bought without anxiety.

There are various methods of setting about a satisfactory purchase; nevertheless, whichever one may be selected, caution and, at least, some knowledge will be necessary, for the trade in live animals has its shady side, which may only too easily involve deception and consequent annoyance and disgust with the whole transaction.

He who possesses a slight knowledge of these birds, and chiefly wants experience, may do best to buy a trained parrot, or, at least, one which is already acclimatised, and, if possible, half tamed. In the first place, the price must be considered, but, if the outlay of £5 and over is not a matter of much account, it is advisable to obtain a parrot which can speak, for, by this means, not only is one spared the trouble of training, and the chance of getting a useless or stupid bird, but one need not fear that the parrot may die during the process of training and acclimatisation. It must not be forgotten that in such a purchase it is necessary to have a guarantee that one has to do with a decidedly honest dealer, otherwise there will always be danger of being cheated. The value of such a speaker is, indeed, entirely fanciful; one often hears the remark - it has even been found really to be so with the old Indian women in the forest - that a speaking bird is invaluable, because the owner will not part with it at any price.

Inasmuch, however, as well and properly treated parrots are, as a rule, able to bear many vicissitudes and live to a great age, the danger of a loss does not easily occur with an acclimatised bird, and as a good speaker finds at all times a ready sale at a moderate price, I cannot advise against the purchase of such a bird. In this there is really only the following to be attended to : First, get from the dealer the most exact information as to what the bird can do. Let this be obtained with certainty and with the understanding that the promise of what may be expected is rather less than more. Further, the seller should give full information as to former treatment, food, care, etc. This should always be required in the purchase.

It is more advantageous, if circumstances permit, to buy a quite untrained, or only half-taught parrot, and personally undertake the further instruction and education of the bird. A low price, however, incurs the chance that one may get a sickly bird, which dies in spite of the most careful nursing, or that one may buy an unmanageable old screamer which can hardly be taught anything. Whoever has opportunity, and knows something of the birds, will do well to select a Grey Parrot at the dealers'. Otherwise one must depend on the honesty of the seller. The first method certainly requires somewhat strong nerves; for one must have heard the screeching which a number of Grey Parrots - say from eight to twenty - utter when packed together in one case, in order to be able to estimate what a great amount of affectionate interest is necessary if a novice is not to be frightened away for good and all. In the treatment, care, and training of such an untamed bird experience is needed, as I said before, from the want of which one may be exposed to annoyance and loss. Above all, knowledge of the previous management is necessary. When the parrots - mostly very young ones - have passed through the difficulties and dangers of the journey, and begin a hard struggle for life in becoming accustomed to our raw climate, the change of food, and the usage, which must terrify them greatly, and if they are not protected from draughts, changes of temperature, and other hurtful influences, yet nevertheless continue to thrive, there is certainly in this a proof that they possess an extraordinary and astonishing constitution. Of course, many are lost in this process, and in order to avoid this the greatest attention must be paid to the golden rule that every bird, like every animal, may be brought to exchange one kind of food for another without difficulty or danger, if it be done gradually; but every sudden change works destruction, almost without exception. The bird, must, therefore, be managed at first exactly according to the directions of the dealer, and then accustomed, as its health may permit - perhaps after some weeks - to more suitable food, about which I shall give further details later on. This must be done in the following manner : The former food must be given in gradually lessening quantities, and the difference made up by the new. In case of necessity we must try to force the bird by hunger to take the latter. The example of a comrade which has long been accustomed to it is a great help, if placed beside the new arrival.