TRAINING TALKING BIRDS. 195 



guarantee it to be the easiest and unsurpassed. So soon as they 

 are old enough those which do not sing should be turned out 

 that they may gaiu their living before the winter comes on. 

 Never keep two in one cage after they commence to sing -, they 

 will fight until one dies. Summary : plenty of water, clean 

 cage no sweet or salt food, fresh meats, flies, grasshoppers and 

 house spiders as medicine ; polk berries as a cathartic ; don't 

 expect them to sing during molting period." 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



TALKING BIRDS AND THEIR TRAINING. 



MANY of the larger beaked birds may be taught to speak 

 words or even sentences, or will learn them of their own 

 accord from overhearing them. This power is principally pos- 

 sessed by the even tailed parrots, in which the tongue is large, 

 broad, and fleshy at the tip. Their articulation does not pos- 

 sess that accuracy and exactness of modulation characteristic 

 of the human voice, but to a certain extent this is mimicked. 

 Usually there is a harshness and crudeness in their speedi, 

 though in this respect they greatly vary. 



All birds possessing the power of learning to talk are gifted 

 with a great imitative faculty, and therein lies the secret of 

 their tuition. Parrots will often pick up words, or odds and 

 ends of sentences, but usually it is desired that they shall learn 

 some particular phrases, to suit the fancy of their owner. In 

 this -case a little drilling is required. The trainer should take 

 the bird alone where there will be nothing to distract his atten- 

 tion j caress and pet him a little, then repeat the word in a dis- 

 tinct tone, and repeat at intervals of- a few moments. Soon the 

 parrot will attempt to repeat the word ; caress him and reward 

 him with a bit of cracker. Repeat this until he has learned the 

 word thoroughly ; when he has done so an alteration may be 

 made in the method of training. On all occasions when he de- 

 sires anything, make him repeat his lesson before his wishes are 

 gratified. Gradually his lesson may be increased in length, new 

 words or phrases being added. A lady relative of the writer 

 possessed, some years ago, a parrot which was always anxious 

 to be allowed to come from the hall, where he was usually kept, 

 into the sitting room. Before he was permitted to enter he was 



