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 diarrhoea, 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."