PURCHASE AND RECEPTION. 13 



chase ; 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 anj^ 

 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, &c. This should always be re- 

 quired 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 



