228 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



They are great mimics, and children delight in their 

 acting. 



The most interesting bird-actor I have even 

 known is a chocolate-faced parakeet whom I chris- 

 tened Moses. He came to me as a gift from a bird 

 dealer when he was quite a baby, and I immediately 

 began to care for him as best I could. The dealer 

 told me that Moses had been brought from South 

 America, and that a sad accident had befallen him 

 on the journey — a cockatoo had bitten off one of 

 his feet. However, the wound was entirely healed, 

 and I was delighted with this baby actor. ^ 



But Moses was an untrained birdling, and he 

 cried and screamed almost day and night. I tried 

 every imaginable thing to soothe him, but still he 

 cried. Finally my neighbours complained of him, 

 and, alas — I had to find him a new home. Then it 

 was I gave him to a friend, without telling of his 

 bad habits. Each time when I inquired of Moses 

 I was informed that he was doing beautifully. 

 From time to time I called to see him, and much 

 to my surprise I learned that he was a very clever 

 actor, and could do innumerable little tricks, such 

 as lying on his back and pretending to be asleep, 

 wiping his beak on certain wires in his large cage, 

 scratching his head on his swinging perch, besides 

 imitating many sounds, like the ring of the tele- 



