XI 



THE TALKING TRIBES 



THE parrot is, next to the canary, the most 

 general favorite as a cage bird. Perhaps if he 

 cost no more than his yellow-coated rival, he 

 would take the lead. He is so important a 

 member of our households, and there is so 

 great ignorance as to his character and abili- 

 ties, as well as to his care and requirements, 

 that he must have a chapter to himself. 



No one should buy a parrot who is not per- 

 sonally fond of birds, and prepared to adopt 

 him as an intelligent member of the family, 

 demanding not only seed and water, but love 

 and attention. 



All the parrot family are birds of the finest 

 organization, susceptible to affection or neg- 

 lect, capable of being either charming com- 

 panions or unmitigated torments. They are 

 endowed with strong emotions, and suffer 

 from the same passions that we do ; they feel 



