TAMING AND TRAINING. 41 



The bird should be tamed and taught to speak at the 

 same time. If it be already tame, it may be put at once 

 into a roomy cage, but if not, this should not be done for 

 a week or two. 



Let us now turn our attention to the teaching, for which, 

 above all things (besides the conditions spoken of on p. 38), 

 a friendly footing with the parrot, and loving sympathy with 

 birds in general, together with quiet, are necessities. Every 

 morning, on first going into the room where the parrot is, 

 and every evening, as well as several times during the day, 

 one word first, very distinctly pronounced, should be said to 

 it clearly and sharply, and, if possible, all drawling, lisping, 

 or other mispronunciation avoided. A full-toned word, with 

 the vowel "a" or ''o," and also with a hard consonant^ such 

 as ''k," ''p," "r," or "t," should be chosen, and hissing 

 sounds avoided. The trainers in the seaport towns and the 

 sailors on board ship usually teach the parrots the words 

 '' Jacko ! " '' Cockatoo ! " " hurrah ! " *' Polly ! " &c., and after- 

 wards " good Cocky ! " ''pretty Poll ! " and others. 



A Grey Parrot which I had had for a long time, which I 

 considered valueless as a speaker because it would not learn 

 anything, and with which I had determined to make an attempt 

 at breeding, suddenly pronounced the words " The doctor ! " 

 which the servant had often used in announcing a stranger. 

 Experience teaches us that every parrot learns more easily 

 from a female voice, which probably sounds more melodious 

 to it. 



While the parrot is learning to speak it must be treated 

 kindly, so that it may gain confidence, and, in particular, it 

 must not be terrified, as it is apt to be at first on the approach 

 of anyone, nor made nervous and shy, but kept quiet and 

 attentive, in order that it may intelligently heed the teaching 

 it receives. This should not, indeed, consist of merely train- 

 ing the parrot to repeat certain words, but everything said 

 must awaken in its mind a distinct perception. For this it is 

 necessary that it should have some conception of place, time, 

 space, and other circumstances. " Good morning ! " should be 

 said early ; " Good evening ! " or "Good night! " late, "How 

 do you do?" and "I am glad to see you!" on arrival, and 

 " Good-bye ! " on going away. One should knock, and then 

 call out " Come in ! " count out tit-bits to the bird, " One, 

 two, three!" or names, "Nut, almond, apple!" Later on, 



