FOOD. 38 



of food which a parrot gets must be in every respect in per- 

 fectly good condition. All seed must be full grown and well 

 ripened, free from dirt and foreign seeds ; not too fresh (hemp 

 especially), or it may cause diarrhoea ; nevertheless, not dried up 

 nor rancid. It is also important, with regard to fruit, that it 

 should not have been plucked too soon, then ripened, and probably 

 become sour, but well grown, and ripened on the tree. Nor 

 must it be in a soft state, over ripe and " squashy," but fresh 

 and well flavoured. Careful attention must be given that in 

 winter it be not icy cold, but only given after it has been cut 

 into several pieces, laid in a warm room, and acquired the 

 temperature of the surrounding air. If white bread be given, 

 it must be well baked, as said before, without leaven, and with- 

 out, or with only the least possible quantity of barm, not 

 doughy or unevenly baked, but spongy and porous. It is also 

 as important that it be not moistened in too much water, or for 

 too long, lest all the nourishment be taken away. 



The directions hitherto given should serve as a general guide 

 for the feeding of the parrots here treated of. Of course, 

 I shall enter into fuller particulars of the special management 

 and diet of each species when I speak in detail of each. 



All birds, and therefore all parrots, the single speaker, as 

 well as the breeding couple, need lime to eat. Animal lime, 

 in the form of the cuttlefish shell, appears most suitable, is 

 eaten with relish on account of the salt contained in it, and 

 is very wholesome. It is necessary, however, to avoid giving it 

 to newly imported parrots, as it may cause immoderate thirst, 

 and the drinking of much water, to which they are unaccus- 

 tomed, tends to bring on diarrhoea. A whole shell, or at 

 least a large piece, should be wedged between the bars of the 

 cage. The next best thing is calcined oyster shells ; lime 

 from old walls, and chalk, may also be recommended. Sand — 

 good, clean, dry, fine sand, not dusty (silver sand is best) is — 

 not only one of the best means of cleansing the cage, and 

 keeping it clean, but it is also a necessity for health, as parrots, 

 like other birds, swallow small stones to aid digestion. 



I will return later on to the subject of the Grey Parrots, 

 Amazons, and others, as I have already mentioned, being often 

 kept entirely without water. I may, however, here incidentally 

 mention that I consider such treatment to be thoroughly inju- 

 rious, and would impressively warn anyone against buying a parrot 

 which has been kept without water to drink. The common 



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