Birds Parrots 
A piece of soft wood for the parrot to tear in pieces 
should be kept constantly in the cage, half decayed 
sticks do well for this. While it is not known that 
this nibbling of wood has any affect upon the 
parrots health, yet it seems to be a necessity for 
the bird’s entertainment and happiness. If wood is 
not given, the parrot often tears its perches to 
slivers. It enjoys playing with spools and finds 
much entertainment in mauling a wooden or strong 
china doll. 
It should be remembered that there are many 
species of parrots and parrakeets used as cage birds. 
Each species has it peculiarities which should be stud- 
ied. We should find out all the facts possible con- 
cerning our kind of parrot from books and bird deal- 
ers, and we should study our own individual bird, so 
as to know best how to treat it. We should always 
show the parrot gentleness and affection, and never 
laugh at it when trying to break it of a bad habit. 
It is only by kindness and persistent efforts that this 
bird can be taught good habits. In teaching the 
parrot to talk, a lesson should be given in the 
morning, and again in the evening, standing close 
to the cage and repeating the words very distinctly. 
If the bird remains very quiet, it is in all probability 
learning the lesson, although it may not repeat the 
words for several days. We ought always to teach 
our parrots to say sensible and reasonable words, 
for it makes them far more interesting. 
At a certain winter resort in the South a very 
talkative parrot was kept. To this hotel came a 
woman with her husband and children as guests. 
The woman was hysterical and irritable, and scold- 
ed her husband and children in a shameless manner. 
For a week the parrot remained quiet, and could 
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