Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1888 — BIRDS THAT KNOW SOMETHING. [ARTICLE]

BIRDS THAT KNOW SOMETHING.

Some Wonderful Educated Parrot* In Paris —Tricks They Perform. Says La Nature: An exhibition of odncated parrots held in Paris showed Tery clearly to what a high state of perfection these birds are capable of being trained. Their stage was a long table, at one end of which were perches, on which were grouped half a dozen parrots. Four of these were cockatoos—white, with yellow crests; fthe other two were gray parrots, with 'the neck and -under parts rose color, j AmoDg the tricks which they perform ♦at the bidding of their owner, M. Abdy, are the following: Two fixed bars on upright supports are placed on the table; a parrot climbs npon one of them, tarns a somerset, keeps his head downward, and, passing on to the second bar, goes through the same exercise. Their owner then calls Tom, a small white parrot, who comes toward him as if about to climb on one of the ibars, but runs back again, holding 'down his head and shaking his wings in a grotesque way. Tom is evidently the buffoon of the troupe. A bell is then brought, with a handle which forms a lever; a parrot advances, and putting one foot on the lever, rings the bell. The trainer asks the audience what number of rings they wish for; some one exclaims and the parrot rings the bell seven times. The bird is then asked how much does three times three make, and it re'plies by ringing the bell nine times. A perch is then placed on the table in the form of a see-saw, at each end of which ; a gray parrot perches and in the center, just above the pivot, jumps a magnificent white parrot named Charley, the principal one in the troupe. This parrot, throwing the weight of his body successively to right and left of the pivot, rocks the see-saw rapidly. To see the animation of this bird during the performance one would suppose that he took a r%al pleasure in rocking his companions. The same bird then goes through 'another exercise. Four flagstaff's are set !up on the table, and at the foot of each |is a fag attached to a cord, which ■passes over a pully at the top. The flags are English, French, Belgian, 'and American. One of the audience (asks for the French flag. Charley advances, draws himself up, erecting his (bright yellow crest, and spreading his wings, suddenly seizes the line with his I beak and foot, hauls up the flag as a |sailor would, hand over hand, until it |is fast at the top. He then goes through ; the same performance with the other flags in succession. (Several letters of the alphabet are , placed upright on the table, and Charley is again brought forward, plumiing himself as before. A spectator calls for a letter. Charley hesitates, inclines his head on one side, appears to reflect, then suddenly advan es and picks up the letter named, repeating the perIformance with other letters when called for. Suddenly little Tom jumps loss his perch, runs up, seizes the remaining letters one after another, and jpitches them on the floor. Another parrot then appears, and at the word of icommand throws several somersets on the table. Two others follow, and waltz slowly round while the music .plays. Of all parrots M. Abdy considers the white cockatoos the most gifted in jregard to agility and capability for learning tricks—being, in fact, acrobats by nature. They are very slow in learning to talk, but they are easily tamed, and understand and do what they are told.