Natural Endowments of the Parrot - Power of Imitating Speech - Various Species - Physical Characteristics of the Talking Species - Mental Endowments - The Parrot in Confinement - The Parrots in their Native Countries - Trade in Parrots - - Ill-treatment - Taming - Training.

There are many advantages which the Parrot enjoys over all other creatures, and even over man.

We envy it principally on account of its wings, the splendid gift with which kind Nature has endowed it, the power of soaring upwards into the ether, and hovering there, high above all other living creatures. Its fellows in the animal kingdom are behind it also in many other respects, and especially in the power of imitating human words. This capability of speech is not known to exist amongst any of the other animals, except birds; even those quadrupeds which stand highest - the dog, the elephant, the horse, and others not unfrequently displaying a truly human sagacity - are denied this gift, though they may sometimes surpass the talking birds in mental power. Of course, not nearly all birds can learn to speak, but only those of some species - very few in proportion to the whole.

We are accustomed to regard speech as the most important advantage which man possesses over the inferior creation. It is speech which distinguishes him, under all circumstances, from animals, and its absence which causes even those most nearly allied to him to rank much lower.

Beasts have, indeed, a language of their own, sounds and signs of definite meaning. He who doubts the truth of this assertion needs only go out into the fields and observe Nature. For a flock of any species of birds, let us take as an example the most common of all - sparrows. Harmlessly cheerful, they follow their occupation, hopping about in search of food, yet one note of alarm only is necessary to inform them all of an approaching danger; moreover, their cry is varied according to the kind of danger which threatens. If a sparrowhawk come in sight, a "t-i-r-r-r-r!" of horror puts the whole flock to the hastiest flight; when the cat approaches, a "tihrrr! " of quite another style causes only a few of the most timid to fly to a safe distance; but if a boy with a pea-shooter or a sling pass by, then a slight "tirr!" merely warns the company to be attentive and cautious, and for the time being no timid fugitive hurries away. Then water is thrown out into the yard, and a joyful "tweet, tweet!" assembles the troop to pick up eagerly the bread crumbs, potato parings and other refuse which have been thrown out with it. A flight of rooks have settled for the night on the tops of the tall poplar trees, below which many people walk and drive along the road; even a sportsman with his gun over his shoulder and his dogs on a leash are scarcely noticed; only a few of the most timid fly away. Then a, youthful marksman appears, who leads by a chain a tamed fox, for the support of which he must occasionally kill birds. As soon as this individual approaches, though under cover of a high fence an old experienced rook utters an angry "Caw!" and with great rustling the whole flock hastens away. These are examples from Nature, proofs of the language, and, at the same time, of the power which birds possess of imparting information to each other. Indeed, we have instances of this among the lowest and smallest animals. If we scrape with a stick at the outer edge of an ant-heap, we see immediately that not only do numerous ants hasten thither, but suddenly a movement from that direction goes through the whole habitation, and excitement prevails from the centre to the boundaries. We see, therefore, that the creatures are able at once to inform each other of the event which has happened.

If we consider in how comparatively small a degree the power of speech differs in mankind, from the most highly cultivated down to the savage scarcely capable of civilisation, then we must allow that the examples of brute speech quoted - and natural history has many such - should fill us, on nearer acquaintance, with admiration. Human speech, however, the sonorous, harmonious enunciation of thought and feeling, the clear expression of varied emotions, must always be considered the highest; and, if an animal be able, though only partially, to imitate human language, it must decidedly belong to higher ranks of creation even than those which appear most to resemble man.

With perfect justice, therefore, a lively and widespread love is entertained for creatures which can speak, that is to say, for birds gifted with the power of speech and trained to use it.

Many a one may remember, in his youth, as an important event in his native town, the arrival of a talking bird. It was, say, a white cockatoo, which sat lazily and sleepily in the ring it was chained to and was carried about in, and now and then it would erect its brilliantly-coloured crest, and, nodding its head comically, and clapping its wings, would cry, with a shrill voice, "Cockatoo! Cockatoo!" Young and old ran to see it, and, when it pointedly added, "Pretty Cocky is hungry!" not only were cakes and sweets brought to it in abundance, but halfpence rained upon the itinerant showman and his wonderful bird. The newspapers relate a good story about a talking bird. A newly-enlisted soldier in Vienna was one day gazing at a great macaw perched with the quiet dignity of a philosopher. When the man had walked round it several times, the bird suddenly exclaimed, "Blockhead!" Hastily the young defender of his fatherland grasped his cap, made a hurried bow, and stammered, " I beg your honour's pardon, I thought you were a bird!" Thus, to a certain extent, the feathered speaker unites the whole race of birds with mankind, and stretching back into our youthful recollections, follows us through the whole course of our lives. In the present day a talking bird is no longer a rarity, for everywhere, even in villages and country houses, parrots are to be found - indeed, in countless variety - among which there are almost more talkers than plumage birds.