vi INTRODUCTION. 



all its attendant horrors; or crop-binding, from over-distension of that organ 

 with soft food. 



Secondly, the absence of the natural amount of fluid in the system, and 

 especially the deprivation of water for bathing often give rise to dryness and 

 irritation of the skin, causing the natural process of moulting to become 

 painful or impossible; as well as giving rise to the objectionable habit of 

 self-mutilation, into which these birds are so liable to fall. 



Thirdly, the practice of debarring Parrots from drinking must cause the 

 poor creatures a great deal of unnecessary suffering, and on that account 

 should be deprecated by every thoughtful person into whose custody one 

 of them has chanced to pass. 



We are glad to say that since we first called attention to the subject of 

 giving water to captive Parrots, there has been a marked improvement in 

 this respect in quarters where it had previously been the custom to keep 

 them without a suitable supply of this indispensable fluid, for which "soft 

 food," is not an efficient substitute; and we hope ere long to find the 

 absurd superstition entirely exploded. Where it can have had its origin we 

 are at a loss to imagine. 



As far as we can gather it is peculiar to this country, and when the 

 practice is mentioned to foreigners it excites a feeling of astonishment not 

 unmingled with contempt; to which we have often heard expression given, 

 coupled with remarks about insular intelligence, that were far from com- 

 plimentary. 



It is true that Parrots are not large drinkers, do not imbibe as much fluid 

 in the course of twenty-four hours as a duck or a goose would do, but that 

 is surely no reason for keeping them without water all the year round. They 

 are small eaters too, and to force them to swallow, for the sake of the 

 moisture it contains, several times as much food as their natural appetite 

 would prompt them to partake of, is decidedly an unwise proceeding, for 

 it is one calculated to shorten their lives, and not unfrequently does so. 



To keep Parrots entirely without water is bad enough, but we were scarcely 

 prepared for a further atrocity, which we have reason to believe is sometimes 

 practised in their case by cruel and ignorant people. 



Not long since we received a query from an unknown correspondent who 

 said that he had had a Parrot (he did not name the species) for a long 

 time, that it did not, or would not talk, and that he had been advised to 

 split its tongue! being assured that if he did so, it would at once become 

 a fluent speaker. 



