26 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



form, taste and fancy may here reign supreme, so long as two 

 chief conditions are fulfilled — firstly, that the hoop is roomy in 

 proportion to the size of the bird ; and, secondly, that the 

 drawer (as described above) is arranged below the perch. The 

 parrot stands which do not satisfy the two last demands I 

 exclude as altogether useless. Those luxurious stands which, 

 instead of answering these practical requirements, are furnished 

 with fish globes, and even a cage for a smaller bird, are not only 

 far from comfortable for the occupant, but, on the contrary, 

 really involve cruelty to animals. The hoop for a parrot of the 

 size of the Jacko must have a perch 2ft. long, and the arch must 

 be about 20in. At the side^^ are placed the food and water 

 vessels, concerning which and the perch the previous remarks 

 hold good. I must mention the following advantages which I 

 consider as essentials, although they are often neglected : 

 First of all, every such stand should have an arrangement for 

 climbing, by which the bird can get down to the drawer, so that 

 it can daily, for at least an hour, paddle about in the sand, and 

 satisfy an instinct of which I shall speak again later on. If 

 such a contrivance be wanting the bird is made miserable, and it 

 is by no means sufficient for it to have a firm seat above the 

 hoop, for I consider this to be absolutely necessary in all cases, 

 even when the hoop does not swing so loosely as to be set in 

 motion by a slight touch. The natural motion of climbing is 

 always much missed, and by the introduction of the upper perch 

 an endeavour should be made to supply it as far as possible. 

 The parrot stand shown in the illustration is so arranged that 

 by means of two screws it can be lowered even to the foot, in 

 order to render it possible for the bird to reach the drawer with 

 the sand. The chain may also be lengthened by half, if it be 

 made from light metal, so that the parrot may not be hindered 

 in any way from walking over the whole space of the floor of 

 the drawer. This stand has no special upper perch. If the 

 bird wishes to climb, and the chain is long enough, it can easily 

 clamber on to the upper arch of the stand. The chain, then, 

 must be not only long enough, but it must have a swivel in the 

 centre, so that the bird may turn in any direction and not get 

 entangled. There may also sometimes be a perch screwed on to 

 the arch at the top, and, finally, the chain may be so arranged 

 that, when the parrot is again seated quietly in the hoop, the 

 half may be removed, so that the foot has not to bear the whole 

 weight continually. 



