Sydney Porter—The Story of a Quaker Parrakeet



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the St. Helena in appearance, although they have a shorter beak. The

cock bird, however, has the quaint courting dance, that of a Bronze¬

wing, and resembles his father in this respect; his song is a funny

mixture between the two.



THE STORY OF A QUAKER PARRAKEET


By Sydney Porter


A few years ago when Parrots “ and all Parrot-like birds ” were

found to be carriers and distributors of that terrible and fell disease

“Psittacosis”, and when, according to the columns of the various

“Daily Liars ”, so many thousands of the human race were being swept

to an untimely death by the said dread malady, Derby possessed

a solitary but well-worn park, namely, “ The Arboretum,” where on

sunny days the countless offspring of the population of the surrounding

sordid streets were pushed in perambulators by their slightly elder

brothers or sisters as the case may be, to enjoy the sickly rays of the

sun which managed to penetrate the pall of smoke and mist which

usually hangs over this noble city.


In a dark corner of the above-mentioned green oasis stood three

aviaries, one constructed out of a derelict tramcar, but all sadly in

need of repair. One contained a few rabbits and many mice; the others

contained, as well as mice, a few Pigeons, a sickly Peafowl, and about

seven or eight Cockatoos which, in the days when they flew under the

blue skies of Australia, were white, but after many years of incarceration

and following the law of evolution, had taken on the colour of their

surroundings—a raiment of sooty grey.


Now we are blessed in this happy city of ours with very able and

conscientious municipal authorities who, above all else, have the

welfare of the citizens at heart.


When the outbreak of “ Psittacosis ” occurred consternation reigned.

The citizens of Derby must be protected at all costs. Such minor things

as smallpox, tuberculosis, bad drains, stopped-up sewers, and other such

trifles were forgotten. Humanity must be protected from this new and

terrible scourge.



