Читать книгу The Natural History of Cage Birds - Bechstein Johann Matthäus - Страница 53

Psittacus erithacus, Linnæus; Le Perroquet cendré, ou le Jaco, Buffon; Der Gemeiner aschgrauer Papagay, Bechstein

This parrot and the following are the most common and docile that we possess. Its length is nine inches. The beak is black, the membrane at its base, and the circle of the eyes have a powdered appearance. The feet are ash-coloured, the iris yellowish. A fine pearl grey and slate-colour tinges the whole body; the feathers of the head, neck, and belly are edged with whitish grey; the tail, which is short, and of a vermilion colour, terminates and relieves this shining and watered plumage, which also has a powdered appearance. The male and female are alike, and learn with equal facility. Most of the birds of this species are brought from Guinea, but they also inhabit the interior parts of Africa, as well as Congo and the coasts of Angola.

Food. – In its native country it lives on all kinds of fruit and grain; it will also become quite fat on the seed of the safflower, which to man is so violent a purgative. Here it eats any of our food; but white bread soaked in boiled milk, and fruits, are what it likes best. Meat, of which it is very fond, brings on diarrhœa, as in other parrots, and that kind of green sickness which makes it peck itself and tear out its feathers, &c.

There are some instances, when treated with care, of their having lived for sixty years.

Breeding. – In its native country this species builds in high trees. This is the first of this group of birds which has bred in Europe. “M. de la Pigeonnière,” says Buffon, “had a male and female parrot in the city of Marmanote, in Angenois, which used to breed regularly every spring for five or six years; the young ones of each brood were always reared by the parent birds. The female laid four eggs each time, three of which were fruitful, and the other not so. In order that they may breed at their ease, they must be placed in a room in which there is nothing but a barrel, open at one end, and partly filled with saw-dust; sticks must be placed inside and out of the barrel, that the male may ascend them whenever he likes, and remain near his companion. Before entering this room the precaution must be taken to put on boots, that the legs may be guarded from the attacks of the jealous parrot, which pecks at everything which approaches its female.” The P. Labat also gives an account of two parrots which had “several broods in Paris.”

Diseases. – This parrot becomes more subject to the different diseases in proportion as it is fed on choice food. Gout in the feet is the most general, and the specifics used for the bird are not more certain in their cure than those used for man. It is not difficult to prevent this evil by great cleanliness, and giving it no meat or other niceties.

Attractive Qualities. – This parrot, like the following, learns not only to speak and whistle, but also to make all kinds of gestures; and it even performs some tricks which require skill. It is particularly distinguished by its pleasing and caressing behaviour to its master. As an example of the talents of this species, Buffon gives an account of one which, “being instructed on its voyage by an old sailor, had acquired his harsh, hoarse voice so perfectly that it was often mistaken for him. Though it was afterwards given to a young person, and no longer heard the voice, it never forgot the lessons of its old master; and it was exceedingly amusing to hear it pass from a soft pleasing voice to its old hoarse sea tone. This bird not only has a great facility in imitating the voice of man, but it also seems to have a wish to do so, and this wish is shown in its great attention, the efforts which it makes to repeat the sounds it hears, and its constant repetition of them, for it incessantly repeats any words which it has just learnt, and endeavours to make its voice heard above every other. One is often surprised to hear it say words and make sounds, which no one had taught it, and to which it was not even suspected to have listened. It seemed to practise its lesson every day till night, beginning again on the next morning. It is while young that it shows this great facility in learning; its memory is then better, and the bird is altogether more intelligent and docile. This memory is sometimes very astonishing, as in a parrot which, as Rodiginus tells, a cardinal bought for one hundred crowns of gold, because it could repeat correctly the Apostles’ Creed; and M. de la Borde tells us of another which served as chaplain to the vessel, reciting the prayer to the sailors, and afterwards repeating the rosary.”