TAMING AND TRAINING. 89 



of mental emotion ; and this not merely from terror or fright, 

 but also from longing after a beloved master, who petted it, and 

 then sold it, or after a feathered companion. It may also arise 

 from anger and rage in consequence of a quarrel, either with 

 some person or animal. It is necessary when giving food, as well 

 as in approaching at any time, to be quiet and friendly, and to 

 avoid, before all things, frightening it by sudden and hasty 

 entrance. In all intercourse with it, especially in the training, no 

 violence or outbreak of temper should be allowed on the part of 

 the teacher. Parrots may also be spoilt by excitement. They 

 should never be teased in joke or earnest, nor unnecessarily 

 threatened, or punished. Panishment, as an aid to education, 

 should only be used under certain conditions, and by a trainer 

 who perfectly understands their character, and who has extensive 

 experience in these matters. 



In taming, undisturbed quiet and an equable kindly temper are 

 the chief conditions of success. At first, for a week or two, the 

 bird should be left unnoticed to itself. Its natural sagacity 

 will soon tell it that no danger to its life is intended, and as 

 soon as it has left off its stupidly shy behaviour, and disagreeable 

 screaming, it begins to observe its surroundings. As it becomes 

 more acquainted with them it develops surprising sharpness of 

 intellect. It knows each one who is friendly inclined towards it, 

 and those who have offered it any real or supposed affront, and 

 thus soon distinguishes between friend and foe. It learns to 

 esteem its benefactor, and grows astonishingly fond of him. It 

 is better not to use any forcible means ; but to avail oneself of 

 some knack in order to tame the bird rapidly and perfectly. 

 After having taken away its drinking water for some hours, it 

 should be held out to it, as well as some especial tit-bit in order 

 to accustom it to taking food from the hand. It easily becomes 

 used to this, comes voluntarily on the finger, allows its head to 

 be scratched and stroked till at last the owner may take hold 

 of it and caress it. 



Dr. Lazarus, one of the most experienced connoisseurs and 

 keepers of parrots, suggests the following somewhat unusual 

 way : Whenever the newly imported parrot with constant gentle 

 treatment (and often in spite of that it is only after the lapse of 

 months) begins to be quiet and fearless, ceasing to screech at 

 every approach, even coming to the bars and stretching out its 

 head, though still very shy and nervous, then one may by degrees 

 venture to stroke the beak or head cautiously with one finger. 



