Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-05-14

/ most commonly brought INTO LuiOPC'
IS superior to most others, both IN the ia
cility and the eagerne5s with which 1t mi
ates the human voice. It listens with at
tention and strives to repeat. II d"ells
constantly on some syllables which II mas
/ heard, and seeks to surpass every voice Oy
the Ioudness Gifts own.
A parrot which Colonel O'Kelly bought
for an hundred Guineas at Bristol, not OIL
" repeated a great number Of sentences
but answered many questions; It was also
able to whistle many tunes, 1t beat tlne
with all the appearance of science; and so
accurate was its Judgment, thatItby cLance'
# m;stook a note, it would revert to the bar
where the mistakes were made, correct II
self and, still beating regular time, 60
through the whole with wonderful exact
ness. Its death was thus announced IN
| the General Evening Post for the 5th OF
/ October. IS02:-''A few DAYS ago, died, IN
! HalfNoon street, Piccaddilly, the celebra-
ted parrot Of Col. O'kelly. This singular
bird sang a number of songs IN perfect
time and tune. She could express her
wants articulately and give her orders IN a
manner approaching nearly TO nationality.
/ Her ace was not known; it was, however.
more than thirty years; for previously to
that period. Col. O'keIy bought her at
Bristol for hundred guineas. The Col.
was repeatedly offered five hundred gulneas
a year for the bird. by persons who wished
to make public exhibition of her; but this,
out of tenderness to the layorIte, he con-
stantly refused. The bird was dissected
Iby DR.. Kennedyand Mr.. Brookes; and the
muscles of the larynx, which regulate the
voice. were found, from the effect Of prac-
|tice, to be uncommonly strong
/ DIR. Goldsmith relates that parrot, be-
| longing to King Henry the Seventh, hay
ling been kept in room next the Thames,
in his palace at Westminster, had learnt
TO repeat many sentences from the boatmen
and passengers. One day, sporting on its
perch. it unluclily fell into the water The
| bird had no sooner discovered its situation
than it called out aloud, "A boat. twenty
pounds fora boat" a waterman happen
ing TO be near the place where the parrot
was floating, Immediately took it up, and
restored it to the King, demanding, as the
bird was a favorite, that he should be paid
the reward he had called out. This was
refused; but it was agreed that, as the par
rot had offered a reward the man should a
ganrefer to its determination for the sum
| hewas toreceive. "Give the knaye a groat
the bird screamed aloud the instant the re-
| ference was made
Madame Nadult, sister to Button, had
aparot, which often spoke to his paw, and
answered byholding it up. He loved the
voice of children, yet hated themselves,
pursued and bit them till he drew blood.
I He had also his objects ofattachment and
though ms voice was notvery nice, 1t was
constant He was very fond Off cook
maid, would follow and find her. If she
| had been some time out of his sight, the
bird climed with his bin and claws to her
shoulders, layished his caresses, and
would ON no account quit her; his fondness
| had all the marks OF close and warm
friendship. The girl happened to have a
very sore finger, which was tedious in heal
. ing, and so painful as tomake her scream;
while she uttered her means, the parrot
| never left her chamber.-Ihe first thing he
| did every day was to pay her a visit; and
this tender coincidence continued the whole
time ofthe cure. when he returned to his
calm settled attachment. Yet this strong
| prediction seems to have been more to
the office ofthe girl in the kitchen, than to
her person; for, when another cook-mald
succeeded her, the parrot showed the same
fondness thevory first day.
Thcpower eliminating exactly ardculato
/ discourse implies in the parrot, very pc
cuIar and perfect structure of organ; and
i the accuracy Gifts memory, tho indepen-
dent Of understanding manltests a close
mess ofatenton. and a strength ofmechan-
|ical recollection, that no other bird posses
es in so high a degree. Accordingly all
naturalists have remarked the singular
form of its bill, Gifts tongue, and its head.
/ Its bin, round on the outside, and hollow
within, has. in some degree, the capacity
ola mouth, and allows the tongue to play
/ freely; and the sound, striking against the
circular border of the lower mandible, is
there modified as on a row of teeth; while
the concayity ofthe upper mandible reflects
| It like a palate; hence the animal does not
utter q vhistlng sound, bat a full arucula-
.. ton. The tongue. which modulates all
sounds, Is proportionably larger than IN
man; aud would be more voluble, were 1t
not harder than flesh; and invested with a
strong horny membrane. From the pecu-