The parrots suffer much more on the steamboat than while in the hands of the buyers. They are pent in great numbers in proportionately small cases, which have bars only on one side, stowed in the lower hold of the ship, where they must suffer in the hot, steamy, smoky air, yet more from the fact that, whether it be from prejudice or necessity, they are denied drinking water. In spite of all such irrational treatment, the astonishingly greater number continue, as has been said, not only to live, but they appear - which must strike us as equally wonderful - as a rule well fed and strong, and do not show signs of any kind of sickness. Thus they arrive in Europe. They are now obliged to pass through another severe struggle for existence - a raw climate, change of food, in short, totally different circumstances, and at the same time all sorts of disquiet and terror. Here they usually strive to live for one or two weeks, sometimes for six, and in rare cases for eight, but then they are, with very few exceptions, hopelessly lost. It is noteworthy that the disease may show itself, in a few days or hours after water has been given, in a parrot which up to that time appeared quite healthy.

The Grey Parrots, as I said before, suffer most from these evil influences, and they are lost most frequently from blood-poisoning, as has been proved by the examination of numberless birds which have died immediately upon importation. Cure has been found impossible; certainly, in spite of many and varied attempts, no successful treatment has as yet been discovered; moreover, this disease is very dangerous, threatening other long since imported and healthy birds, through contagion. For these evils there are two remedies : either the wholesale dealers must arrange that the purchase of Grey Parrots be so looked after and regulated in their native places that the birds shall be no longer, from mere avarice, packed in masses together, and through shameful neglect given over to destruction; in other words, the wholesale dealers must see that the parrots are treated reasonably and suitably, so that these birds, which have so strong a hold on life, may remain healthy and reach us in that condition; or the entire trade in Grey Parrots must be brought to an end by the fanciers abstaining unanimously from purchasing until other arrangements are made. It is to be hoped that if the object cannot be attained by fitting arrangements as suggested, it may be brought about by the latter resource.

The parrots brought over in sailing vessels are for the most part more sensibly kept and better cared for, and, therefore, mostly prove more capable of surviving their hardships. This cannot, however, be stated as a rule without exception, for the opposite also is known to occur. In conclusion, I may state that most parrots, like foreign birds in general, if they are not attacked by the incurable blood-poisoning after they have endured the long severe sea voyage, recover completely, and do not break down under other trials.

Very many parrots, especially the Green Short-tailed, or Amazon Parrots, from America, also a considerable number of others from Asia and Africa, come to market already tame, or at least half tamed. Many of these have been old birds when caught.

Scarcely anything is ascertained as to the mode of catching parrots. It is well known that the small parrots are caught in swarms with nets, birdlime, or snares, when they come to the drinking places, or on similar occasions. We can only suppose that the great talkers are usually captured in the same way. Concerning the taming in their native place, travellers relate that old Indian women have the astonishing art of making a wild, untractable, and vicious parrot in a short time so tame that after a few days, or even hours, anyone, even a stranger, may take it on his hand and stroke it. Many exaggerated stories are told as to this, but the fact is incontrovertible; only the mode of procedure is not clear; for some maintain that the Indian woman only dips her hand in water, and then strokes the bird over its back; others are of opinion that she pours over it the juice of a narcotic plant; while, according to another account, the bird is tamed by the injection of human saliva into the mouth. The greatest number of the parrots, however, which come to market tame are those taken out of the nest and fed from the mouth with chewed maize and similar food, and which have already passed through several hands - from the natives, Indians, or negroes, to the dealer; from the latter, or, perhaps, directly from the first-mentioned, to the seamen, sailors, or ships' officers; from them, again, either to the wholesale dealer or to the parrot trainer in the seaports; from one of these latter to the retail dealer; and from him, or it may be from the wholesale dealer, finally into the hands of the amateur bird fancier. On this route the parrot, as may be supposed, has learnt many good, but also many bad, habits and lessons. The trainers in the seaport towns, who are called parrot teachers, are small publicans, keepers of seamen's taverns, barbers, discharged sailors, etc. - mostly uneducated men. They deliver the parrots, especially Amazon Parrots and Grey Parrots, usually when they are tame enough to perch on the finger, and to speak more or less, so that in these, of course, the amateur has valuable birds most thoroughly suited for further instruction. One unfortunate circumstance - and it is certainly very disagreeable - here presents itself, namely, that of an uncouth, broad and unpleasant accent, and all sorts of disgusting habits; for example, many such parrots have learnt abusive words, vulgar speeches, and annoying sounds, such as imitating a consumptive cough, snoring, rattling in the throat, spitting, and so forth, and of these it is extremely difficult to break them. Nevertheless, such birds must not be considered worthless; on the contrary, they are valuable by reason of their capability, and if one does not mind the trouble of careful training, they may be weaned from all bad habits, as instruction in good manners advances. Of late, the large bird-shops often offer trained or even speaking parrots. This is because they select from their supplies the best untrained birds, and give them over to the above-mentioned trainers. Such a proceeding is commendable, and will, it is to be hoped, lead to the price of feathered speakers, which is much too high, being lessened by degrees so that they may be accessible to the less wealthy amateur.