The late 0. E. Cresswell—Parrots



47



comicality in the mimicry of Jackdaws and Magpies scarcely equalled

by any Parrot. They, however, are rare exceptions. Of the Parrot

tribe there seems a possibility that a bird of any species, from the

huge Hyacinthine Macaw down to the tiniest Australian Budgerigar,

may speak, and of certain species a large majority of individuals do

learn to speak more or less. I say advisedly learn to speak, for their

proficiency as talkers depends greatly on the tact, patience, and

perseverance of their instructors. A Parrot will often remain silent

for months, occasionally for years, in new hands, and still eventually

- prove an excellent talker. I do not mean that they do not learn much

from one another and from the casual noises and conversations of a

family, while appearing to take no notice at all ; but whatever you

desire to teach a Parrot you must repeat constantly, and must not be

disheartened by the bird’s utter disregard or rather apparent utter

disregard of you. Some day he will probably say it when least expected

to do so. I should not fail to mention that like great talkers of the

human race they are jealous of rivals, and, like a Macaulay or a

Thackeray, some Parrots if they cannot monopolize the conversation

often sulk in silence. My own Patagonian Conure has terribly retro¬

graded since my Illiger’s Macaw learnt his pet sayings and says them

first ! This is a common complaint with those who keep many Parrots.

I do not for a moment believe that because they are silent they forget

their former sayings ; I believe the memory of Parrots to be very

accurate. The said Patagonian Conure at times calls the poultry in

the peculiar way of a young man who was temporarily with me

in 1893.


You may perhaps ask, “ Which of all the Psittacidse are the best

talkers ? ” Probably the well-known Grey South African, but though

they have great facility for learning a number of words and even

sentences and pronouncing them intelligently, they almost invariably

do so in their own rather throaty voice.


South American Amazons, of which I will speak in detail presently,

are close rivals of the Greys, and they have an advantage in that they

are far more easily acclimatized. A friend of mine, probably the greatest

living English authority on Parrots, the Hon. and Rev. Frederick Dutton,

wrote : “ The Amazon is one of the best to keep, as it learns quickly



