568 CLASS AVES. , 



tame parrot, which, by its cries, attracts the wild ones of the 

 forest, and the last never fail to come at the voice of the pri- 

 soner. The hunter, without loss of time, passes round their 

 necks a running knot, attached to the end of a long wand, 

 which he moves from within his cabin. If he has five or six 

 of these wands, he can take as many parrots, for they will not 

 attempt to escape, unless the cord presses tightly on their 

 necks. 



They are all susceptible of education, but the young ones 

 are more so than the old. The means employed consist in 

 imposing certain punishments upon them, such as immerg- 

 ing them in very cold water, of which they are greatly afraid, 

 or puffing at them with tobacco smoke. Rewards are also 

 used, as well as punishments, and when they perform what 

 is desired, such things are given to them as they are fondest 

 of ; more especially, sugar and sweet wine. They are tamed 

 and kept obedient, by taking them with boldness, and 

 speaking to them with authority, and in a loud tone of 

 voice. 



They may be thus taught to perform various gestures, 

 and assume different postures ; some will lie down on their 

 backs, and not rise but at the command of their master ; 

 others will perform exercises with a stick, or dance in a 

 manner more or less grotesque. They are taught by con- 

 stantly repeating, close to them, such words as they are 

 meant to learn. Success, however, does not always attend 

 such endeavours. Some species are better disposed than 

 others for this kind of education, and the same is the case 

 with different individuals of a species. The grey parrots 

 and the amazons, are those which speak most distinctly, 

 and imitate, most naturally, the cries of animals, and other 

 noises, which they are in the habit of hearing. Some may 

 be taught to whistle entire airs ; but they seldom go through 

 theni) sometimes whistling only the middle, sometimes the 



