144 GREAT SALMON-CRESTED COCKATOO. 



Salmon-crests are not at all treacherous, and that is more than can be 

 said for Lemon-crests. If they hate you, they hate you; but if they 

 are good-tempered, they never think of biting. Any one might pet 

 my second bird. He used to be allowed to fly loose, and formed a 

 beautiful sight flying at an enormous height in the air. He always 

 stayed out three days, and then came home to feed. He loved to 

 splash about in the wet boughs after a shower. 



The third I had I bought cheap as a confirmed feather-picker. I 

 rather hoped to cure him; but finding I could not, parted with him 

 again. Perhaps while I am on the subject of feather-picking, I may 

 give a hint or two to amateurs. Feather-picking comes from two 

 causes. One is from improper conditions of life, either as to diet or 

 cleanliness. This is when the bird pulls out its feathers, and tears its 

 flesh. It is the most distressing kind to see, but much the most 

 curable. Restore the bird to health, and he will probably give up 

 the habit. 



The other cause is ennui. The bird is a restless active bird, and 

 he gets bored. He learns to pick his feathers by way of distraction. 

 You can only cure this kind by continually occupying his attention; 

 and as this is next to impossible, it is not very likely that this kind 

 of feather-picking will be cured. 



There is also a third trick Parrots have, and that is nibbling their 

 feathers. This is pure trick, just like a child's biting its nails. You 

 can make the child understand it mustn't, and you can tie up its 

 hands in gloves; but you can neither make the Parrot understand, 

 nor muffle its feathers. As with diseases, so with tricks : an ounce of 

 prevention is worth pounds of cure. See that a bird has plenty of 

 firewood to make matches of before it begins to pluck itself. 



The Salmon-crest has with all his charms two or three drawbacks, 

 which prevent his being suited for cage life. His screams are more 

 than any one who is not stone deaf can endure, and I never knew 

 one which was quite broken of screaming. Then they have a very 

 strong smell, which renders them quite unfitted for a living room, 

 though they might do for a hall. Though they come from the Moluccas, 

 they appear to be very hardy. Their best place is certainly at liberty. 

 They are not destructive to trees like the Macaws, and make quite as 

 beautiful an object flying about. Their price is unvarying. All dealers 

 charge £5 a piece for them. 



END OF VOL. III. 



B. FAWCETT, PRINTER AND ENGRAVER, DRIFFIELD. 



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