MORE ABOUT THE PARROT. 67 



tive. A bird will be sullen, and refuse to eat 

 or to be taught. The Indian has a sure way of 

 punishment. He has only to blow a little to- 

 bacco smoke into the eyes of the Parrot, and it 

 is enough. The Parrot has such a dislike to the 

 smell of tobacco, that he will become as docile as 

 possible. 



The Indian will often subject his prisoners to 

 very curious treatment. He will try to alter the 

 colour of their plumage, and make it more showy. 

 There is a Parrot, called the Amazonian Parrot, 

 that is one of the best talkers in the whole 

 family. The Indians value him highly, and 

 try to procure him when he is very young, and 

 the feathers are only beginning to grow. They 

 pluck the feathers from the neck and shoulders, 

 and rub the parts with a colouring substance or 

 dye, called anatto. The feathers soon grow 

 again ; but this time, instead of being green, 

 they are a brilliant red or yellow. In fact, the 

 green costume is changed for one much more 

 splendid. But the health of the bird suffers from 

 the treatment he has received. He is feeble and 



