Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1880 — Parrots. [ARTICLE]

Parrots.

Parrots are so very disagreeable to most people who count themselves well regulated that these probably have no idea how many of the squawking birds are imported into the country for sale. Thousands are disposed of annually, and the demand is said to be growing. In toe large cities, like Baltimore, Newiork, Philadelphia and New Orleans, they find a ready market, and also in many of the minor towns. New England is reputed to have a prejudice against parrots which is hardly equalled by any other section. The people of the Southern states generally like them more than those of the Northern states do, but they are for greater fovorites with foreigners, as a rule, than they are with Americans. The best, or least bad, parrots are brought hither from the Windward or Southern Carribbee Islands. They build their nests in the royal palmetto tree, finding or digging a hole there after the manner of the woodpecker, and so ensconcing themselves that it is necessary often to cut the tree down in order to capture the young. These are put into cages, fed on palm ich e, guava and bananna for a few months, when they will eat anything. The breeding time is May; there are rarely more than three to the nest, and they ream their full growth in eight months. Almost any parrot can learn to talk It placed where it can hear talking wheu young, for its power of imitation is instinctive. It seldom forgets what it has pnee been taught, a peculiarity which makes a parrot that has been Instructed in profanity a very undesirable companion for a pious family. Indeed, its love for the improper and interdicted seems to be so inbred hat some people have thought it endowed with human attributes. Tkeparrot is indigenous to warm parts of America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The only clearly ascertained species within the boundaries of the Republic is the Carolins parrot.

A correspondent writing from Lewisburg, W. ya, tells the following anecdote of the Rev. John McElhenny, the famous itinerant, who never announced any stated hour for evening service, always saying: “Brethren and. sisters, we’ll meet at early candlelightin’;” “He was preaching the funeral sermon of an aged member of his flock, whom we will call Mrs. Smith. After a few introductory remarks he was possessed of the strange idea that it was Mr. Smith whose remains were before him. Having known him intimately for yean, he delivered a glowing eulogy of Ms character, his Christian conduct, his benevolence, charity, kindness of heart and possession of all those virtues which makes up a welb rounded Christian life. As he closed his remarks one of the elders quietly entered the pulpit and whispered to him: “Dyster, youWveutadea mistake; it is Sister Smith who to dead. Brother husband,, is sitting in the first pew.” AVell,’ replied the old minister, in tones of thunder. Ht makes no difference. AU I have said about Rmfhftr Smith in ftauallv annlicable to her —y insiJnisAn KaAv tffi reOlflhlJt • *t wnoae mwniinmo wuj im dcmku w. There is no virtue where there to no its sOTdKsmricirramstancre, butftita yy essence, to exterminate and dtoorder, MHI opprefwifTn from th# world# n®ct dustry,liberty, and prosperity of your COWT