MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 876, 21 January 1930, Page 16

MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS

SHIPMENT OF PARROTS FOR NEW ZEALAND QUESTION OF DISEASE Mexican parrots can certainly talk. There was a large cage of them on the Maunganui when the vessel arrived this morning, and according to their jabber it was quite evident that the surroundings were rather strange to them. Mr. Richard White, well-known in Auckland as a fancier and importer of birds, arrived from Mexico with the birds, which are for distribution throughout New Zealand. "They are great mimickers. I have heard nothing like them. There are two dogs on the ship kept not far from them and we were not out to sea long before the parrots were barking and yelping.” said Mr. White, "while there are also some passengers and members of the crew which they have taken off to perfection.” The birds are very tame and during the voyage were often allowed out of the cage. They are natives of Mexico and are taken out of the nests before they can fly. Green in colour, with red tips on their wings and very small yellow spots at the back of the head, they are indeed attractive. On being unloaded from the ship today they were let loose on the wharf, but merely walked, and did not attempt to get very far' away from Mr. White. Mr. White also brought some spider monkeys from Mexico which he unloaded at Sydney for the Melbourne Zoo. “I have heard much discussion concerning the importation of birds and the fear of them contracting disease and bringing it into the country,” said Mr. White, ‘“but this is really a lot of rot, unless, of course, the birds are shipped before they moult and then they are certainly very susceptible to disease. Any fancier with any knowledge at all would not do this and then there can be no fear. I had to wait some time for these birds to moult, and although the wait meant considerable expense, it would have been sheer foolishness to have brought them away before.”