Amateurs will also often follow the above mode of proceeding, because, although it requires great exertion, yet it leads to the desired end more quickly than any other course. Mr. Meyer, the Comptroller of the King's Household, in Berlin, relates how he has often done it; shutting himself up with a totally untrained Grey Parrot in a room, and treating the wild, struggling, screeching, and apparently uncontrollable bird in the manner described, for days if necessary, from morning till night, and even on into the night, until its timidity and defiance were at last conquered and it became tame and docile from weariness and hunger. Taming in this way must be regarded as one of the most difficult tasks in bird training, and I would not therefore recommend it to all amateurs. For if other modes of proceeding be slower and occupy more time, yet they have the advantage of establishing more friendly relations between the man and the bird, whereas this breaking in certainly cannot render the human heart mild and gentle. It also appears to me that a bird which has been thus put under control by such forcible means must always have the impression of slavery; on the contrary, those which are trained in love and friendship are always naturally more attached to their master.

Taming and training can only be carried on without difficulty and with the best results when the teacher is really possessed of a certain aptitude for it. There are people who can perform a difficult task of this kind with astonishing ease, while others, on the contrary, although they may have greater experience and much more knowledge, find it always difficult.

When it is observed, however, that all kinds of birds are at once fearless, and even confident, towards the one, and with the other, even after years of intercourse, never become quite quiet and tame, one must involuntarily accept the supposition that it does not depend on the conduct nor manner of treatment, but from the very first must be founded on the outward appearance. It is said that parrots, like children, are frightened at a bearded man, whereas, at least in general, they show more affection to ladies and children. It is also said that male parrots are more amenable and loving towards women, and vice versa, females towards men, but conclusive observations with regard to such statements have not yet been made.

In order to train a bird rapidly and completely, the following conditions, dictated by experience, must not be forgotten. The seat must never be higher, but always lower than the position of the human eye. It must always be placed so that the caretaker, or trainer, be between it and the light. The bird must always (especially in the case of the larger parrots) be rendered as far as possible helpless, for the more it finds itself in human power, the more easily it will become tame, and at the same time the sooner amenable to instruction.

It should, therefore, at once be put in a very narrow cage, or chained upon a stand. Both proceedings, however, require caution; even the taking of it out of the travelling cage must, be set about very carefully, and should never be done by the owner himself. This also applies to the putting the chain on the foot. (See ante, p. 18).

It must always be remembered, in dealing with even a perfectly tame parrot, that, as a tropical bird, it has many peculiarities which demand care and attention, lest it should suffer in some respect. A highly gifted parrot, more than any other creature, is liable to be made ill or even to die from the effects of mental emotion; and this not merely from terror or fright, but also from longing after a beloved master, who petted it, and then sold it, or after a feathered companion. It may also arise from anger and rage in consequence of a quarrel, either with some person or animal. It is necessary when giving food, as well as in approaching at any time, to be quiet and friendly, and to avoid, before all things, frightening it by sudden and hasty entrance. In all intercourse with it, especially in the training, no violence or outbreak of temper should be allowed on the part of the teacher. Parrots may also be spoilt by excitement. They should never be teased in joke or earnest, nor unnecessarily threatened, or punished. Punishment, as an aid to education, should only be used under certain conditions, and by a trainer who perfectly understands their character, and who has extensive experience in these matters.

In taming, undisturbed quiet and an equable kindly temper are the chief conditions of success. At first, for a week or two, the bird should be left unnoticed to itself. Its natural sagacity will soon tell it that no danger to its life is intended, and as soon as it has left off its stupidly shy behaviour, and disagreeable screaming, it begins to observe its surroundings. As it becomes more acquainted with them it develops surprising sharpness of intellect. It knows each one who is friendly inclined towards it, and those who have offered it any real or supposed affront, and thus soon distinguishes between friend and foe. It learns to esteem its benefactor, and grows astonishingly fond of him. It is better not to use any forcible means; but to avail oneself of some knack in order to tame the bird rapidly and perfectly. After having taken away its drinking water for some hours, it should be held out to it, as well as some especial tit-bit in order to accustom it to taking food from the hand. It easily becomes used to this, comes voluntarily on the finger, allows its head to be scratched and stroked till at last the owner may take hold of it and caress it.

Dr. Lazarus, one of the most experienced connoisseurs and keepers of parrots, suggests the following somewhat unusual way : Whenever the newly imported parrot with constant gentle treatment (and often in spite of that it is only after the lapse of months) begins to be quiet and fearless, ceasing to screech at every approach, even coming to the bars and stretching out its head, though still very shy and nervous, then one may by degrees venture to stroke the beak or head cautiously with one finger.