FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
459 
angry farmer. At night they roost in hollow trees. The 
prevailing color of the Carolina Parrot, is bright yellowish 
green ; head and neck bright orange ; tail faint gray ; very 
thick long tail ; the middle feathers about twice the length 
of the others. Length about twenty-two inches. They are 
easily tamed, and when domesticated manifest much attach- 
ment to their master ; but their powers of articulation are 
poor. They do better in confinement if kept in pairs ; when 
one dies the other seldom long survives him. 
THE GREEN OR AMAZON PARROT. 
This is the most common variety of the whole species- 
being a fluent talker, and requiring less attention than any 
other. It is more generally kept. It can be found in most 
fanciers’ stores, and can be bought for from $10 to $30. 
One of the most fluent and best talkers we ever saw belonged 
to this species. The color is a fine green with a yellowish tint 
on the belly ; the beak is black, edged with scarlet feathers ; 
the cheeks are dark blue, nearly approaching a green ; the 
iris of the eye golden-yellow ; the top of the head is often- 
times yellow. 
THE GRAY AFRICAN PARROT. 
This bird is very docile, and is one of the most fluent 
talkers among birds; and, on this account, is very valuable. 
A young bird of this variety, if well feathered, will sell 
easily at twenty-five dollars, while a well-trained bird can- 
not be bought for twice that amount. In length it is about 
ten inches; and the color of its plumage is a beautiful ash- 
gray, with a red tail. Its food consists of hemp seed and 
Indian corn, either raw or boiled, and occasionally a cracker 
soaked in coffee, but will usually do well on seed alone. 
THE KING OR RED PARROT. 
This variety is quite large. It can be taught to imitate 
tunes, and makes a good talker. It is very susceptible to 
colds, and should be kept in a warm place. The prevailing- 
color is red ; the wings are green, growing lighter colored 
as it approaches the centre. 
THE GOLDEN PARROT. 
This is the most beautiful of the parrot tribe, but is very 
rare even in its native country. It seldom becomes a good 
imitator of the human voice. The color of its plumage is a 
peculiar golden hue, making it appear very dazzling, and 
exceedingly beautiful. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Under the above head we will with pleasure answer all reasonable 
questions concerning small pets.] 
S. H. T. — No ; your parrot will not talk any better if you 
slit its tongue. This is an old-fashioned idea, and an erron- 
eous one also; besides it is a very dangerous operation, and 
when done by an inexperienced hand, is apt to result in 
the death of the bird. We advise you to place your bird in 
a partially darkened room; secrete yourself behind a door, 
so the parrot cannot see you, and repeat very distinctly any- 
thing you desire it to learn. If this plan does not succeed, 
get rid of it, as it will never be a good talker. In a future 
number we will give more explicit directions on training 
parrots. 
p. A. — You can get about one dollar each for your Car- 
dinal Grosbeaks — that is if they are well-feathered birds — 
at almost any fancier’s store. Woodpeckers cannot be reared 
from the nest without more trouble than they will ever be 
worth. We will give a receipt for making the universal 
pastes in the next number. 
Wood. — We do not sell fancy breeds — or any other breed 
of fowls. Will send you the canary as soon as you forward 
the money. Send money by post-office order. 
Co F^ES po pi D E pj C E . 
Editor Fanciers’ Journal : 
Mr. Philander Williams responds to my questions about 
the call for the meeting of the A. P. A. Executive Commit- 
tee in New York, July 22d, whom I understood, very 
clearly, in their application to the President of the Associa- 
tion to issue a call. But, the call itself , signed by the Pres- 
ident, is addressed simply to the Executive Committee, 
“every member of which” is urged to be present. I thus 
supposed that this was to be a special meeting of that Com- 
mittee only. If, as Mr. Williams understands, and explains 
it, “ Any one who has matters of interest to himself or the 
Association, whether members or not,” may be rightfully 
“ present in person,” and are “ to be properly listened to,” 
all right, that is what fanciers and breeders who are “ not 
members of the A. P. A.” desire ; and we shall thus have a 
good time on the 22d of July, in New York, no doubt. I 
shall endeavor to be there, and hope to meet yourself, Mr. 
Bestor, Mr. Felch, Mr. “W.,”Mr. Babcock, Mr. Athole, 
Mr. Williams, Mr. Van Winkle, Mr. Bicknell, Mr. Hal- 
sted, et als., Mr. Sweet among the rest; to whom it will 
afford me pleasure to extend the hand of good fellowship. 
Yours truly, B. 
“ HOWL AWAY.” 
Editor Fanciers’ Journal: 
The widely published invitation to attend the Buffalo 
Convention was distributed to all interested, and no one 
will say but what the most respectable and best breeders in 
the country participated in the meeting, and are now active, 
earnest supporters of the Association. 
Examine the list of “ sore heads ” who would not accept 
the cordial invitation to be present at Buffalo, and with 
their superior wisdom and experience assist in revising the 
standard — would they be any improvement, or inspire any 
more confidence with those most interested in such matters? 
I think not. No one will say that the present standard is 
perfect — -neither will any well-posted breeder have the 
assurance to say that our best judges did not serve faithfully 
on the several committees appointed to revise the standard. 
We could not expect perfection, and can only ask the Asso- 
ciation to hear just criticism, and from time to time, as new 
editions are printed, correct mistakes, and in time we can 
confidently expect a creditable Standard of Excellence. © 
If the American Poultry Association receive the profits 
arising from the sale of the new standard, I have not a word 
of complaint to utter, as they will need all the funds they 
can command, and any breeder interested in poultry can 
well afford to pay a small tax in this way towards support- 
ing the organization if he desires a standard. 
I would suggest that the next edition contain the full 
proceedings of the Buffalo meeting, and sufficient pertinent 
matter to make a respectable-sized report, to be called Vol- 
ume 1 of the American Poultry Association for 1874. Such 
a book would meet with a ready sale, and prove a source of 
revenue. Yours agitatingly, Illinois. 
