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ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 
are very long-lived birds, sometimes living for fifty, seventy-five, or 
even a hundred years. The males and females are very much alike, 
being the same in size and color, and equally capable of being taught. 
Parrots will seldom breed in confinement. 
A few birds are taught to talk before being sent to this country, 
but such birds are not always to be had, and very high prices are asked 
for them. It is more satisfactory to buy a young bird and teach it 
youjself. As a rule, parrots will learn quicker from women than men, 
and quickest from children. After purchasing a parrot, let it remain 
for about two yeeks unnoticed, except to give it the necessary care. 
Then try to win its affection with gentle words, and gradually accus- 
tom it to being handled. . After being placed under instruction it is 
usually from four to twelve months before the bird will try to talk, but 
when once it does so, it adds to its vocabulary daily The plan of 
splitting a parrot's tongue is not only exceedingly cruel, but it is use- 
less, and will simply prevent it from ever articulating distinctly. 
A parrot should be chained or caged, as, if allowed its liberty, it 
will be apt to find unwholesome food. The usual cage is about two 
feet in height, and fifteen inches in diameter. It must be kept scrupu- 
lously clean, and a plentiful supply of clean sand or gravel should be 
furnished for both eating and bathing, as parrots do not bathe in water, 
but cleanse themselves with sand. However, it is best to once a week 
sprinkle your bird with slightly-warm water. 
In one cup of the parrot’s cage should be kept a mixture of canary 
seed, and large Russian sunflower seed, hemp or unhulled rice may be 
added occasionally. In the other cup keep boiled corn, a slice of stale 
bread, or a cracker soaked in coffee; at noon, remove this and refill the 
cup with water. Occasionally they may be given nuts, boiled corn, 
or ripe fruit. Never give meat or greasy food of any kind. 
Among the varieties of parrots the following are the most prom- 
inent: The gray parrot, the Mexican, the Australian paroquet, the 
Amazon, the Cuban. Other varieties, are the cockateel, the cockatoo, 
the cut-throat cockatoo, and the rose-breasted cockatoo. 
.-V 
