Part IL— The Speaking Parrots. 



CHAP. VIIL— GENERAL EEMAEKS. 



Exposition of the Subject — Breeding of Valuable Speahers. 



In accordance with the title of this work, I must here treat of all 

 parrots which have hitherto proved themselves to be gifted with 

 speech, from the best speakers down to those species of which it 

 has been shown that, at least, one of their kind has, at all 

 events, learnt to pronounce one word. Of course, 1 shall notice 

 them in proportion to their very varied gifts ; describe the 

 valuable and remarkable talkers fully, and speak of the 

 remainder the more shortly according as their importance to 

 the fancier decreases. In my books, before mentioned, I have 

 divided this family of birds into two great groups, the short- 

 tailed, or true parrots, and the long-tailed, or parrakeets. The 

 former number amongst their ranks the most excellent speakers, 

 and I therefore now begin by describing them. Among them 

 there are classes of which all the members have shown them- 

 selves possessed of the gift of speech ; for instance, the Grey and 

 the Black parrots, and the Amazons ; while in many other 

 classes, in the short as well as the long-tailed species, hitherto 

 only some kinds, or even only one individual, has proved itself 

 capable of speaking. Those classes of which, as yet, no species 

 has been found to be talkers, are mentioned on page 5, but are 

 left otherwise unnoticed. One part of the subject of parrot 

 fancying which, in later times, has become very important, i.e.^ 

 breeding, I must of necessity pass over in complete silence, as 

 not coming within the limits of this book. Of the lesser 

 kinds, many, as is generally known, have already been most 

 successfully bred, and the young used by preference for 

 teaching to speak. Attempts at breeding the larger and more 



