Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-05-30
CONDUCT OF A BOBA
LINK.
Great Barrnuton March 10 1S5I

A curious circumstance quite aside from the
ordinary dictates OF instinct, occurred in the case
of a young bobalink in the family of Rev. J. w,
Turner, of Great Darlington, Mass He was
Gagged at first apart from pair of canaries, which
were in another cage i'll the same room. The
bobalink never sang at all from June to Deccm-
bor, until he was permitted TO share in the same
cage the civiliies of bis neighbors, who had been
so long entertaining him with their sweet and
unweared strains. When admitted to the same
cage with them he tried most assiduously to
learn their song. 1T first, however for long
time with miserable success enough. He would
stand and watch :hem with an agony of atten-
ton, and then try to initiate their notes. He
would swell out his throat, aud stretch up his
neck as they did, and then with a violent effort,
| try TO sound one note, which, in spite of all his
zeal and labor, proved to be mere rough scream
AT this Illuminating failure he would be so pro-
voked and enraged that he would fly at his in
offensive and well meaning mates and teachers,
anu peck them most numerically, and drive
them from their perch. So he did for three or
tour weeks, before any progress was made in
his studies. But his perseverance was equal to
the dlfilcultes he had 10 overcome. At length
he could sound one note well, and one only
And so he continued for some weeks longer;
learning one note TO time, till he had finally
completed the whole canary song and could
sing it TO perfection. Then he would sing with
them in perfect harmony aud perfect time, al
ways closing at the exact note with them.
IL IS also a little singular that, although thro'
all this training he was never knswn to begin to
make sound, till the canaries had first struck
the key note, after he acquired the skill to sing
their song, he mus always himself now give tie
signal by significant ciYct when, instati:lv
the canaries, generously forgetting or lorgiying
his former inclyHies, would strike in with HIM,
ana perform the piece with the greatest pertcc-
ton, and with the highest delight to themselves
and the listening family, who enjoyed this sin
gular concert through the early part Of every
day for the whole summer
Ills also worthy Of remark, that this success
ful essayist in foreign music was never known
to utter note, or to attempt TO utter note, III
his native tongue, till he had mastered the cana
ry. Then, after a few weeks, when he found
himself something of an independent singer and
capable as he thought, of leading the choir, he
at last yenturcd to 90 without the chorus and
attempt his own native melody. In his attempts
at the solo, it was most deverting to hear him in
confused notes-part in his native bobalink, and
part in canary-till at length he was able 70 eX-
pei all foreign element from his style, and sing
only the pure bobank.
Having now succeeded III tins, he proposed
to the canares to try the chorus again, and gave
the ''cluck" when the canares, instant TO the sign
started off singing their own native song. But
not SO with the bobaIink, he threw himself on
his Preserved rights" and sang bobalink and SO
they have continued to the present time, he sing
ing bobalink, and they canary And as he is
chorister, they begin when he does and end when
he ends, precisely at the same instant.
When this b1balink was first caught, his COL
ors were bright, beautiful black and white
After noting, he, for some reason not stated,
never resumed his original spring dress, but
has continued the plain brown, like the female,
now for two years, and sings in the winter as
well as in the summer especially when the sun
shines brightly, and the winds whistle through
the trees around the dwelling; and now, since
his character is maturcd, he is sprightly, hap
Ply, gentlemanly sort of brd.-IrareIer.