The fancy for Speaking Parrots not only dates from very ancient times, but in the present day it is extraordinarily ardent and widespread. Doubtless, no other bird kept alone as a speaker will take in a higher degree the position of friend and companion to man than a parrot.

Parrot lovers - as well as fanciers and breeders of other families of birds - may reasonably desire to have offered to them a source whence they may obtain advice as to purchase, care, training, etc. To supply such need I have undertaken the present work. Professional critics must judge whether I have succeeded in satisfying the just expectations and demands of the friends of these birds.

Whoever ventures upon the production of such a work must, before all things, be furnished with the requisite knowledge founded upon experience, otherwise he will only lead his readers into error and exhibit his own deficiencies.

It is probably well known that for some decades I have been exclusively occupied with the practical rearing of birds, and have, during that time, kept most of the species here described, and therefore I am acquainted with them, not merely in their outward appearance, but in their whole nature, their peculiarities, necessities, and capabilities. The abundance of information collected for my larger work, "The Foreign Cage Birds,"* has proved extremely useful for the purposes of this book. Under any circumstances, in a work of this description practical directions on all points should be considered the chief object. Anyone glancing over the extremely rich and abundant descriptions and varied records of almost countless keepers of Speaking Parrots, which have appeared in my journal, The Feathered World,+ during the course of the last ten years, and trusting to my having used the same in conjunction with my own experiences, conscientiously and intelligently, may be able to judge whether I could venture, with perfect confidence, to fulfil the task before me.

* "Die fremdlandischen Stubenvogel," Band III., Die Papageien. +Die gefiederte Welt (Berlin, Louis Gerschel).

In accordance with its title, this book deals exclusively with those Parrots which have, up to the present time, been clearly proved to be gifted with speech.

Considering that such a work as the present must assuredly attain a certain international value, I have not only treated of the conditions of the bird trade in its entirety, but also have added, as fully as possible, the names of the birds described, in the languages of the four countries (England, Germany, France, and Holland) into which the importation of Parrots chiefly takes place. In this, as in all my other writings, I have avoided mentioning names which have been arbitrarily or unsuitably applied, preference being given to the already existing appellations, so far as they prove suitable. Where it has been deemed advisable to introduce new names, I have also given the scientific appellation; and if this was not practicable, such an one has been chosen as best agrees with the peculiarities of the bird, or a name given by means of which the merits of some eminent explorer, connoisseur, keeper, or breeder, may be honoured.

In the practical use of this manual, I would suggest the observance of the following direction : The name by which the bird is known to the reader should be sought in the Index, and then also all those parts in which it is mentioned by that or its other appellations should be carefully perused. The chapters on "Purchase and Reception," "The Cage," "Food," "Taming and Training," "Preservation of Health," and "Diseases" should be attentively studied, as only by this means can guidance and advice in any case be found as desired.

Among the numerous works which have appeared of late upon bird fancying, treatment, and breeding, the present is probably the only one which concerns itself particularly and exclusively with the subject in hand. I therefore wish all the more earnestly that it may entirely fulfil the expectations which all lovers of Speaking Parrots are justified in entertaining with regard to it.