Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/324

 PITS of grit it would soon suffer from severe indigestion. Keep a lump of rock-salt in the cage, and sprinkle the tray daily with a thin layer of sea-sand. The Parrot's Bath A parrot will enjoy a lukewarm bath once or twice a week in summer-time, and it is a delightful plan, directly the bird is tame enough, to place the bath on a square of oil- cloth in a patch of sunshine, and let it splash there to its heart's content, and afterwards to dry itself and preen its feathers in the sun. Another plan which the parrot much enjoys is to be given a gentle shower-bath from a watering-can to which a very fine rose has been fitted. The water should be warmed to the temperature of a summer shower. At night, during both summer and wmter, it is advisable to cover the bird up carefully. Nothing is so fatal to a parrot as draughts. A green baize cover, vith plenty of air- holes pierced in the top, to draw on right over the cage at night is a necessity. Also it proves an effective way of silencing a bird who is addicted to the tire- some habit of scream- ing persistently. Food Parrots are more effected by the proper choice of food than almost any cage-bird ; to improper feeding may be ascribed almost every illness which affects the parrot tribe. With proper attention to its diet a parrot may live to be over fifty years of age. Maize, well dried, boiled until fairly soft, and carefully drained of water, must form the staple part of the parrot's daily fare. This should be supplemented with hemp- seed and good sound oats. A change of diet occasionally is very beneficial. The changes may be rung on stale bread soaked in water and well drained, boiled rice, walnuts, and peanuts. A little ripe fruit, grapes, apple, plum, pear, or banana, or a slice of carrot should invariably find a place in the parrot's daily bill of fare. A small cup of clean drinking-water must always he kept in the cage. The following articles of diet are strictly forbidden : Meat, butter, lard, or any other form of fat, all of which arc too heating and quite unnatural foods for a parrot, and soon lead to the dreadful habit of feather-picking, the bane of all parrot-keepers. Milk or cream should also be avoided, 302 lettuce is unwholesome, and parsley is a deadly poison to all parrots. Taming a Parrot In order to tame a parrot and to accustom it to being handled, its mistress should take entire charge of it from the first, feed it, clean out its cage, and keep it in her own room, out of draughts, but m a sunny window, so that it may grow thoroughly accustomed to the sight of her. The best and safest way to get to be able to handle it is to begin by accustoming the parrot to feeling one's hand moving about inside the cage — replenishing food and water vessels — after dark, for all parrots become very subdued when the light is withdrawn, and will permit many liberties which they would not endure for an instant in broad daylight. After a few days one may stroke it gently with the finger in the dark. After a few weeks the bird can be freely handled and will not attempt to bite. The whole process should then be re- peated in twilight, and finally by broad day- light,when the mastery over one's pet will be complete. If it be intended to allow the bird out of its cage directly it is tame enough to be handled, it should have the feathers of one of its wings cut at the shop where it is purchased, before being sent home. This is quite a painless opera- tion, and if properly done does not show. The feathers grow again after the bird has moulted, but mean- time it will be found to have lost the desire to use its wings, and will, as a rule, make no attempt to fly away. The parrot's talking lessons may begin when it is two years old. Commence by giving it a ten minutes' lesson three or four times a day on the same short sentences for several weeks. To teach a young grey parrot, stand in a room next to that in which the parrot's cage is standing, with the door ajar so that it can hear and not see its instructress, and repeat the same sentence, such as "Where's Polly ? " " Pretty Polly ! " " Puss, puss, puss 1 " or " Polly wants his dinner," etc., until it has been repeated by the parrot accurately. To teach a parrot to whistle an air, repeat one or two bars over and over again until the bird has thoroughly mastered them before going on with the tune, which should be a very well-known one in order that one's pupil's successful endeavours may be generally recognised and appreciated. The Grey Pa: rot This bird is generally a good talker, it is imported from the Gold Coast of Africa, and is one of the most 'popular of ail cage-birds. Phoio. IV. S. Bcrridge