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Parrot intelligence

Enthusiastic owners of parrots attribute to them a high measure of intelligence and many wonderful stories are told of their memory and ability to connect words with persons or things. Their manner of answering when spoken to seems at times manner marvelous, and it would really seem that these birds are gifted with some measure of human reasoning.

Most writers who have made a study of the subject, think their wards and sentences are mere repetitions or coincidences. While the bird may attach a certain meariing to a sentence which it repeats, still the several words of which it is composed, convey no ideas to its mind. A dog or horse may Iearn the meaning of certain words and obey when his master repeats them in a certain tone of command, but the animal would pay no attention to the same words if used in an ordinary conversation. We think, however, that there is reason to attribute a higher grade of intelligence to the parrot than to most other birds or animals, and their brain is proportionately larger than any other.

A gray parrot belonging to a doctor has learned when a patient knocks to say: "Open the door and call the doctor", but occasionally reverses the order, and shouts out: "Open the doctor and call the door", apparently unconscious of the mistake.

We knew of one parrot which was fond of potatoes, and always asked for them when he saw them on the table, but never mentioned them when they were not in sight.

The parrot is a strange, mysterious creature. We know that it not only talks, but remembers, perceives, has ordinary human-like passions, appears to be self-conscious when he has done anything admirable, and his eyes sparkle with amusement when he has played some mischievous trick. He appreciates praise and likes to be netted. He recognizes faces and often connects them with sentences or words. He usually makes friends of children and loves to plqy with them. With so many human characteristics, why should we not be fond of them? For most bird lovers, however, it is not sufficient to read about, or see a fine bird as they desire at once to possess it.

It must be "my parrot" who makes funny remarks to callers or the boys oil the street and amuses everyone by his language and antics. You can have more real pleasure with a parrot than any other pet. He provides a continued burlesque show all day long. They are not only "mocking birds," but bird monkeys. They are natives of the same countries as monkeys and resemble them in their antics and play.

"Do parrots talk to each other?", is a question often asked. They most assuredly do. We have sometimes had two parrots which seemed to be very fond of each other, and would talk almost ceaselessly, especially when no human being was near by, repeating everything which they knew and learning words and sentences from each other, As a proof of affection they will sometimes disgorge undigested food from their crops and offer it to their mate, this being the manner in which all birds feed their young.
When you consider the many wonderful things about these birds, you cannot fail to regard them as among the most marvelous works of a Divine Creator.