INTRODUCTION. 11 



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 whole- 

 sale 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, &c. — 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 disagree- 

 able — 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-men- 

 tioned 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. 



