About 
Foreign Birds. 
( 8 ) 
THE BIRD WORLD. 
About Foreign Birds. 
With Special Reference to the Hobby in Scotland. 
By GAVIN ALSTON* 
(Continued from p. 165, Vol. I.) 
Beauties of the Parrots. 
The Parrot family contains some of 
the most strikingly coloured of all birds. 
In some of them the colours do not 
seem to harmonise very well, and have 
the appearance of having been applied 
with a brush by an unskilled artist. 
But, no doubt, Nature has found 
these colours more suitable for the 
protection, combined with the orna¬ 
mentation, of the individual. In 
others of the Parrot family, the 
colours are so delicate, and so 
beautifully blended, as to admit of 
their being classed among the loveliest 
of all the feathered race. 
In fact, many of them would be ideal 
cage, or aviary birds, but for their voice 
being more or less discordant to the 
human ear, whilst the screams and cries 
of some are nothing short of distracting. 
Parrots are among the longest-lived and 
hardiest birds kept in confinement, and 
some of them are remarkable for their 
intelligence, and capability of imitating 
sounds, even the human voice. The 
Grey Parrot is the one most favoured in 
this direction, but although some of 
them can say many words, and even 
repeat long sentences, I wish to dispel 
the idea that is very prevalent that they 
can engage in conversation. Although 
at times they do slip in a word that 
seems appropriate, it may be regarded as 
purely coincidence, but for the most 
part the muddling up of their words and 
sentences is amusing, if nothing else. 
There is said to be more roguery in 
the Parrot trade than all others; any¬ 
how, if you want to purchase a Grey 
Parrot, take care you are not landed into 
a Rosy Cockatoo, which is only worth a 
few shillings, as these birds are often 
advertised as Pink and Grey, Red and 
Grey, or Australian Grey Parrots. 
See that you get the African Grey 
Parrot, and so save disappointment. Of 
other Parrots, the Blue-fronted Amazon 
has a good name for talking, and some 
of the other Amazons follow close up. 
Do not ask anybody who keeps a Parra- 
keet if it talks, as you will only be show¬ 
ing inquisitiveness, and boring the man 
at the same time. 
The Most Popular Show Birds. 
The Parrakeets most frequently kept 
in captivity are the Ring Neck, Rosella, 
Cockatiel, and Budgerigar. The last 
two breed freely in an outdoor aviary, 
and for an amateur are good stepping- 
stones to something better. The Cocka¬ 
toos are also commonly kept in cages. 
By far the prettiest is the Leadbeatei 
Cockatoo, and the only one that is worth 
keeping for exhibition purposes. The 
Macaws are the largest of the group. 
There are few bird shows of importance 
in Scotland that cannot boast of having 
a Macaw amongst the exhibits, and it is, 
as a rule, awarded the coveted ticket, 
irrespective of condition or staging. Very 
often it is ragged and unhealthy-looking, 
often dull and sleepy, as if mourning 
that it has no more worlds to conquer. 
Why the Macaw should be so favoured 
on the show bench is difficult to under¬ 
stand. There are often rare and equally 
valuable Parrakeets in perfect condition 
competing, and yet they have to take a 
back seat to this somewhat clumsy giant 
of the race. 
Following the Macaw in the honours 
are usually King, Crimson Wing, or 
Pennant Parrakeets, and perhaps an 
Amazon or Cockatoo. It is little use 
showing any of the Indian Parrots, or 
anything else of the commoner kinds, if 
you wish to get anything better than a 
commended card. In the future I have 
no doubt that rarer species will be sent 
to the shows, such as the Many-coloured 
Parrakeet, or probably some of the 
beautiful Lories. Any of these, shown 
