6183. Phial Barometer

6183.    Phial Barometer. Take a common phial and cut off the rim and part of the neck with a file. This may also be effected by means of a piece of cord passed round it, and moved rapidly to and fro, in a sawing direction; the one end being held in the left hand and the other fastened to any convenient object, while the righthand holds and moves the phial; when heated, dip it suddenly into cold water, and the part will crack off. {See Nos. 2368 (To Break Glass in any Required Way), etc..) Then nearly fill the phial with clean water, place your finger on the mouth, and invert it; withdraw your finger, and suspend it in this position with a piece of wire or twine. In dry weather the under surface of the water will be level with the neck of the bottle, or even concave; in damp weather, on the contrary, a drop will appear at the mouth and continue until it falls, and is then followed by another in the same way.

6184. The Chemical Barometer, or Storm Glass

6184.      The Chemical Barometer, or Storm Glass. Take a long narrow bottle, such as an old-fashioned eau-de-Cologne bottle, and put into it 21/2 drachms of camphor and 11 drachms of spirit of wine; when the camphor is dissolved, which it will readily do by slight agitation, add the following mixture: Take water, 9 drachms; nitrate of potassa (saltpetre), 38 grains ; and muriate of ammonia (sal ammoniac), 38 grains. Dissolve these salts in the water before mixing with the camphorated spirit; then shake the whole well together. Cork the bottle well, and wax the top, but afterwards make a very small aperture in the cork with a red-hot needle. The bottle may then be hung up, or placed in any stationary position. By observing the different appearances which the materials assume as the weather changes, it becomes an excellent prognosticator of a coming storm or of a sunny sky.

6185. To Teach a Parrot to Speak

6185.     To Teach a Parrot to Speak. The quickest way is to send the bird, if possible, where there is another parrot who can speak. They should be placed near enough to hear, but not see each other, and the one will soon imitate the other. A good way is to speak to the bird at night; just when his cage has been covered over (which must always be done with a woolen rug in winter) repeat over several times in the same tone the sentence you wish him to learn. He may not appear to notice at first, but some day, quite unexpectedly, he will repeat the sentence exactly in the same tone that he has heard it. He should at once be rewarded with a bit of sugar, or fruit, or any little dainty that he is fond of. They are very quick at understanding that rewards are given for obedience. Never allow a parrot to be startled or teased, or permit it to be fed indiscriminately by visitors. Keep the cage extremely clean; let it be wiped out and fresh sand given every day. Some birds drink very little, but they should always be able to get a drink of fresh water if they wish. It is also a good plan to let a small quantity of canary seed be in the seed-can; it is possible that the morning bread and milk may be forgotten, and the seed will thus prevent the bird being starved.