AFRICAN GRAY PARROT AND OTHER PARROTS. 187 



infant, and will often perform the mother a service, and at the same time amuse her, 

 by sweetly singing the babe asleep. To hear a well-trained Mexican Parrot attempt 

 to accompany the piano with one of his nursery songs is something startling. Stand 

 behind the door, and listen, but do not look ; although you may be sure the bird is 

 doing the singing, the cleverness and clearness with which it is rendered will cause 

 you to doubt your own ears and eyes. 



The Mexican will also imitate to the life any of the various animal sounds he 

 may hear. He will daily cause the mother of a baby to run in alarm at hearing the 

 cry of her infant, and cause her to smile at seeing her prodigy laughing in glee at 

 his imitator instead of finding him on the floor with a broken nose. The praises of 

 the Mexican Parrot could be indefinitely prolonged : he certainly ranks closely on 

 the heels of his only superior, the Gray, and in some instances far outstrips him in 

 his versatility. When the young Mexicans are first brought to the markets for sale, 

 it is commonly supposed that the beak is not sufficiently hardened to properly crack 

 the uncooked Indian corn. The chief food, therefore, consists of Indian corn boiled 

 to a soft state : this is indeed a most excellent food for any species of Parrots, as it 

 has not the heating or fattening quality of various other kinds of food commonly 

 given. The soft food retains sufficient moisture, so it is not necessary to give water 

 in addition. The principal food for the Mexican should be the boiled Indian corn, 

 which will repay the slight trouble taken in getting it ready by the health which 

 the bird will enjoy, and bread or cracker soaked in coffee. He may also be fed 

 in addition the regular Parrot food, a description of which will be found in the 

 paragraph on the subject at the end of this article. -^ 



Ripe fruit, such as bananas, oranges, or apples, may be given at intervals, and \ 

 are hugely relished. The usual complaints which affect all classes of Parrots / 

 prevail among the Mexicans. A prevalent disease among them is purging, or ( 

 vomiting the food, which is caused by improper or stale food, or by too sudden \- 

 change of diet, which weakens the stomach, and causes the vomiting of all food f 

 which may be given. This complaint will usually be remedied by administering a \ 

 few drops of brandy diluted with two parts water. Keep the bird warm, and feed / 

 only the boiled corn and bread with coffee for a few days. _>/ 



A great treat for the Mexican, or, in fact, any variety of Parrot, is millet-seed in 

 the ear, Indian corn on the stalk, oats, corn, barley, or wheat in the ear. In the 

 summer season, when green corn is ripe, give him an ear now and then ; and he will 

 enjoy it greatly. 



Give your bird plain, healthy food, and not any sweetmeats, plenty of sunshine 

 when possible, and a shower-bath when the weather permits ; and he will repay you 

 by recounting to your children, when you are dead and gone, your many virtues and 

 kindnesses. The Mexican Parrot, although not as long lived as the Gray, has been 

 known to live to be sixty years of age : unlike the Gray, he cannot conceal his age ? 

 but, as a venerable patriarch, in his last years shows a coat of colors which rival 

 those of a French dowager. 



THE CARTIIAGENA PARROT. 



This bird is striving with the Mexican for fame as a singer and talker. He i* 

 gentle and quiet, very intelligent, and has a most retentive memory. He learns 



