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INTRODUCTION - Parrots, and other Psittacine Birds, have been kept as pets for centuries; since the days of ancient Rome, Greece and other civilizations before them. The African Grey Parrot was the best known in Europe during those times, and was brought in by the merchant galleys. In India and China, which had older civiliza­tions, the Alexandrine and other Asiatic Par-rakeets were kept by the natives. Back in South America, the Incas and other Indian nations kept Macaws and the var­ious species of Amazon Parrots

01. TAMING - Psittacine Birds are different from all other birds, in that they have strong hooked beaks, and all have two toes behind and two in front. During their evolution, these birds all preferred climbing to hopping from branch to branch. A species such as the Hanging Parro-quets, have a locking joint in their legs which enables them to hang from a branch and sleep upside down, their favorite position at night.

02. BIRDS TO TALK - You may find that your bird is plucking its pin feathers. Suggested remedies for bird disorders will be given later in this book. This is also the time when looking your bird over, to apply the proper insecticide powder with a small rubber bulb blower under the feathers close to the body where mites would be found. Even if your bird doesn't have any mites, a once-a-month delousing is a good preventative.

03. BREEDIN - An outdoor breeding cage for the larger Parrakeets would have to be about 20 ft. long x 6 ft. wide x 6 ft. high. For Parrots and Cockatoos the length should be from 25 to 30 feet, for Macaws a little longer. Six feet of the top and sides of these aviaries should be solid, to act as a shelter in wind and rain, and to keep their food dry. When constructing a breeding enclosure, length is the most important consideration.

04. FEEDING OF PARROTS - I don't know the circumstances under which you, the Parrot Fancier, live or where, but the following wide variety of suitable foods for large Psittacines are given so your bird may have a well balanced and varied diet.

The staple diet of Parrots, Macaws and Cockatoos should consist of equal parts of seeds, greens and fruits. The seed part should be composed of the following: Giant Russian Sun­flower, Hulled Oats, Canary Seed, and large Red or Yellow Millet.

05. PARROTS - AFRICAN GREY PARROT (Psittacus e. erithacus) This species, one of the best known Parrots, is said to be the best talker among Psittacine Birds. In the United States, they were very popular in the "Eighties" and in the first quarter of this century. Because of the grossly exaggerated "Parrot Fever" scare which was given much adverse publicity, it is more difficult to get these birds into the United States and the prices for them are higher in consequence.

06. HILL MYNAHS - These birds, the size of a Pigeon, are of the Grackle Fam­ily. They are mostly shiny black, with an overlay of metallic purple and green on the back and rump. The wings have a white bar in the center. The bill is orange, and in mature in­dividuals the legs, wattles, and cheek patches of naked skin are deep yellow. Immature birds are very pale in these parts, with the wattles undeveloped. These are strong stocky birds for their size.

07. LORIKEETS - These birds are found only in the Australian region and among the many South Seas Islands.

The Lory and Lorikeet are differentiated by the former having a short broad tail, while the latter has a long pointed one. The Lorikeets are smaller than Lories. They both pos­sess the most brilliant colors of all the Psittacine Birds, and are the only ones which have brush-tipped tongues instead of the smooth tip of the other Psittacines. The Lorikeets are about 6 to 8 inches long, and the Lories from 7 to 12 inches.

08. LORIQUETS - These are tiny birds (5 inches), mostly bright green with short, round tail, and having a shrill whistle and undulating flight. They are birds of the woods. While Loriquets don't have the brush-tipped tonque of the Lories and Lorikeets, the method of feeding is exactly the same for them as they are nectar and soft fruit eaters also. (See previous chapter.) This species, too, is for the experienced aviculturist only as they are delicate in captivity. They may bathe on sunny mornings.

09. LORILETS - This is one of the rarer Psittacine Birds whose othe^ name "Fig Parrot" is given because they feed on the fruit of tall wild fig trees of the jungle, also native berries in com­pany with Fruit Pigeons and other frugivorous birds. Lori-lets are mostly of a beautiful green shade, hence difficult to see in the trees. They are very quiet, with the main indi­cations of their presence being partly eaten figs which tumble down while they are feeding.

10. AFRICAN LOVE BIRDS - Love Birds are small birds of the Parrot family, barely exceeding 6 inches in length, with stout bills and short square tails.   Pairs are affectionate, and although some people believe that the death of one of a pair will cause the other to pine away, this is not true. A new mate will be just as ac­ceptable as the old. Even though pairs show affection to each other, this does not prevent them from being quarrel­some at times with other species as well as with their own kind, especially while nesting or when too many are confined in too small a cage.

11. PIGMY PARROT - Since this book is to cover all Psittacine Birds, the Pigmy Parrot, smallest Psittacine Bird in the world, will be men­tioned. These tiny midgets are no bigger than your thumb, and are of the genus Micropsitta. They are delicate in cap­tivity, and are practically unobtainable for the average fan­cier. Their color is mostly green and size from 3 to 3% inches.

12. MAGPIES - Magpies (Pica rustica) are included in this book for their talking ability. The different species are distributed over most of the world, in Europe, Asia and North America. They are birds of the woodland. The American and the European species are the ones best known as talkers, and have pure white patches on the wings and abdomen.

13. COCKATOOS - These birds are of the order Psittaciformes — family Ka-katoeinae. Their range is confined to Australasia, as far East as the Solomon Is., North to the Philippines, and West to the Celebes and Lombok.

Most Cockatoos are white, although some are gray, brown or black. All but a few have a crest. They represent an ad­vance in the evolution of Parrots, and are seemingly more intelligent. Some species make good talkers when tame and taught young; although in this respect they don't equal the Hill Mynah, African Grey and large Amazon Parrots. Meth­ods of training them to talk are given in the first part of this book.

14. COCKATIELS - The other native name for this bird of the Cockatoo fam­ily is the "Quarrion." It is the only one of its genus, and aviculturists say that it is the connecting link between Par­rots and Cockatoos. It was first discovered in 1788. Habitat: Throughout Australia. Size of a Dove 12% to 13 inches. Scientific name (Leptolophus hollandicus).

15. MACAWS - These are New World birds only, and inhabitants of South and Central America. The large forms are the biggest Psittacine Birds in the world, at least in length, some measur­ing 3 feet. The Kea of New Zealand is more massive in breadth and is a Cockatoo species. The average person doesn't know that there are a number of green species much smaller in size than the ones commonly known. Several all-blue varieties exist also.

16. SHELL PARRAKEETS - Scientific name (Melo-psittacus undulatus). Habi­tat: Australia. Size of a Canary. This species is in­cluded in this book not so much for its talking incli­nations which are slight, but for the truly astounding color range which skillful breeders and the specie's peculiar genetic makeup have combined to produce to delight the fancier's eye.

17. LARGER PARRAKEETS - Among the most beautiful and varied species of Psitta-cine Birds must be mentioned the larger Parrakeets, which are a big family. They exist in most tropical places in the world. Though many are highly colored, few if any will talk. The English bird fanciers have really done wonders in prop­agating these lovely birds, particularly since for several years now they weren't permitted to import fresh wild stock due to the Psittacosis scare.

18. HAWK-HEADED CAIQUES - This genus, of which there are several species, is some­times known as Fan Parrots. They are very close cousins of the plain-headed Caiques. Their peculiar characteristics are short, stout bill, long tail, and the feathers on the nape and hind neck which are long and erectile. These feathers form a hood when the bird is excited or angry.

19. CAIQUES - Caiques are small, stout birds of the Par­rot Family, with un­usually striking col­oration. Hand-reared specimens are comi­cal in their actions, and have an aggres­sive tendency towards each other. They have a short tail with point­ed feathers which is less than half the length of the wings. Sexes are alike. Their habitat is in north­eastern South Amer­ica

20. PARROT LETS - Parrotlets are really miniatures of the large Amazon Par­rots. They are not quite as small as the Pigmy Parrots of the South Pacific Islands but are from about 4 to 5% inches in length which makes them quite small. They are slow-moving except when flying as they are swift on the wing in undulating flight.

21. BROTOGERYS - This is a genus of small green Parrakeets widely kept as pets. Their body is green with a small orange spot on the chin. Two of them are: TOVI or BEE BEE PARRAKEET (Bro-togerys j. jugularis). Habitat: Mexico to Colombia. Green with orange spot on chin. This is the best known. And the WHITE-WINGED PARRAKEET (Brotogerys v. versicolorus). Body green with a band of white and yellow on the wing

22. CROW FAMILY - The Crow Family are included in this booklet, especially for the talking ability of Ravens and Jackdaws. Ravens are the largest Crows and are big black birds, Jackdaws are black birds with grey necks. Crows are devoted to their mates and take good care of their young. The various Crows make good talkers when trained young and tame very easily. I

23. EUROPEAN STARLING - The Latin name for this species is Sturnus vulgaris. It inhabits Great Britain and Europe, ranging eastward as far as Central Siberia. European Starlings have been introduced in New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. The United States introduction occurred in 1890, through 60 birds being liberated in Central Park, New York City.

24. HEALTH PROBLEMS - The best way of controlling disease is by keeping your bird cages and bird premises clean at all times, free of damp­ness, out of strong winds or drafts, and where the sun can reach in part of the day. A proper diet combining all essential vitamins and minerals maintains vitality, hardiness and longevity.

25. REGULATIONS - Effective November 15, 1951, all federal restrictions on the interstate shipment of psittacine birds were rescinded. Shipments are now subject only to state laws. While most states have also rescinded their laws prohibiting shipment, the following are still to be observed:

Maryland and Connecticut. Birds cannot be sold, given away, or shipped into these states.

THE END