PREFACE. 



The fancy for Speaking Parrots not only dates from very 

 ancient times, but in the present day it is extraordinarily ardent 

 and widespread. Doubtless, no other bird kept alone as a speaker 

 will take in a higher degree the position of friend and companion 

 to man than a parrot. 



Parrot lovers — as well as fanciers and breeders of other families 

 of birds — may reasonably desire to have offered to them a source 

 whence they may obtain advice as to purchase, care, training, 

 &c. To supply such need I have undertaken the present work. 

 Professional critics must judge whether I have succeeded in 

 satisfying the just expectations and demands of the friends of 

 these birds. 



Whoever ventures upon the production of such a work must, 

 before all things, be furnished with the requisite knowledge 

 founded upon experience, otherwise he will only lead his readers 

 into error and exhibit his own deficiencies. 



It is probably well known that for some decades I have 

 been exclusively occupied with the practical rearing of birds, 

 and have, during that time, kept most of the species here 

 described, and therefore I am acquainted with them, not merely 

 in their outward appearance, but in their whole nature, their 

 peculiarities, necessities, and capabilities. The abundance of 

 information collected for my larger work, ''The Foreign Cage 

 Birds,"* has proved extremely useful for the purposes of this 

 book. Under any circumstances, in a work of this description 

 practical directions on all points should be considered the chief 

 object. Anyone glancing over the extremely rich and abundant 

 descriptions and varied records of almost countless keepers of 

 Speaking Parrots, which have appeared in my journal. The 

 Feathered World,f during the course of the last ten years, and 



* " Die fremdlandisclaen Stubenvogel," Band III., Die Papageien. 

 ■fDie gefiederte Welt (Berlin, Louis Gerschel). 



