10 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



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 Giey 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 Pairots, 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 sup- 

 pose 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 



