This is a large genus of birds, consisting of two hundred species,
distinguished by the peculiar structure of the bill, which assists them
in climbing. They are gregarious, have generally very brilliant
plumage, and inhabit warm regions.
_Anecdotes._--The gray parrot often lives to a great age. We are told
by Le Vaillant of one which lived in the family of Mr. Huyser, in
Amsterdam, for thirty-two years; had previously lived forty-one with
that gentleman's uncle; and there can be little doubt that it was two
or three years old at the time of its arrival in Europe. In the day of
its vigor, it used to speak with great distinctness, repeat many
sentences, fetch its master's slippers, call the servants, &c. At the
age of sixty, its memory began to fail. It moulted regularly twice a
year, till the age of sixty-five, when the red feathers of the tail
gave place to yellow ones, after which, no other change of plumage
took place. When Le Vaillant saw it, it was in a state of complete
decrepitude, and, having lost its sight and memory, had lapsed into a
sort of lethargic condition, and was fed at intervals with biscuit
dipped in Madeira.
Leo, son of the Emperor Basilius Macedo, was accused, by a monk, of
having a design upon the life of his father, and was thereupon cast
into prison, from which he was freed through the instrumentality of a
parrot. The emperor, upon a certain occasion, entertained some of the
greatest nobles of his court. They were all seated, when a parrot,
which was hung up in the hall, in a mournful tone cried out, "Alas!
alas! poor Prince Leo!" It is very probable that he had frequently
heard courtiers passing, bewailing the prince's hard fortune in those
terms. He frequently repeated these words, which at last so affected
the courtiers that they could not eat. The emperor observed it, and
entreated them to make a hearty repast; when one of them, with tears in
his eyes, said, "How should we eat, sire, when we are thus reproached
by this bird of our want of duty to your family? The brute animal is
mindful of its lord; and we, that have reason, have neglected to
supplicate your majesty in behalf of the prince, whom we all believe to
be innocent, and to suffer under calumny." The emperor, moved by these
words, commanded them to fetch Leo out of prison, admitted him to his
presence, and restored him, first to his favor, and then to his former
dignities.
Buffon says, "I have seen a parrot very ridiculously employed,
belonging to a distiller who had suffered pretty severely in his
circumstances from an informer that lived opposite him. This bird was
taught to pronounce the ninth commandment,--'Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbor,' with a very clear, loud, articulate
voice. The bird was generally placed in a cage over against the
informer's house, and delighted the whole neighborhood with its
persevering exhortations."
Some years since, a parrot in Boston, that had been taught to whistle
in the manner of calling a dog, was sitting in his cage at the door of
a shop. As he was exercising himself in this kind of whistle, a large
dog happened to be passing the spot; the animal, imagining that he
heard the call of his master, turned suddenly about, and ran towards
the cage of the parrot. At this critical moment, the bird exclaimed
vehemently, "Get out, you brute!" The astonished dog hastily retreated,
leaving the parrot to enjoy the joke.