Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-25

Very Likely many readers OF the Com
panion do not know that there are sew
eral other birds besides the parrot that
can initiate the human voice.
Among these is the mino, a round,
plump bird, about as large as a common
thrush. 1t is found in the jungles o!
India, and on the islands near that
country.
In color the mino is of deep velvet
black. with purple. blue and green re-
Elections. There is little white on the
long wings. The bill and feet are vel.
low, and there are bright yellow wattles
back of the eyes.
In the East Indies this bird is often
kept as a pet, and becomes so affection
ate that it will keep near its master
when it is not confined in cage. 1t is
sometimes kept Gagged ill Europe and in
this country, but is so rare that as large
q sum as one hundred dollars has been
given for single mino.
1t is wonderfully bright aud engaging
It learns to whistle, sing, do amusing
tricks, and some persons who have had
experience with it, have thought it sur
passed even the gray parrot, the king of
talking parrots, in its capacity for speak
ing like a human being. 1t lives most
ly on insects, fruits and berries.
The natives of Sumatra call it Teeong,
while those of Java call it Beo and
Mencho. Bayard Taylor wrote some
time SINCE
l never saw mino but once. en-
tered the vacant reading-room OF q hotel
early in the morning, took up paper
and sat down, when suddenly voice
said, 'Good-morning !
/" 1 saw nothing but what seemed to
be black bird in cage, and could not
have believed that the perfectly human
voice came from it, had it not once
more said, in the politest tone. ,tfaood
Il walked to the cage and iaoi, I'd at
it; Open the door and htna out,
please, said the bird.
"' Why, what are your Iateuatari-
ly exclaimed.
as I'm a mino,' answered the amaz
ing creature.
1t was the exact voice of boy of
twelve"
The startling is also a talking bird. 1t
IS very handsome, of purplish- green
color, with some buff and reddish
brown, and its natural song is soft and
sweet.
There are curious facts to note about
this bird. 1t is found all over Europe,
and in parts of Africa and Asia. Every
Hook OF starlings, no matter what its
size may be,-and sometimes the birds
assemble in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to be
under the command of one bird, and
gives its general united, instantaneous
obedience.
A flock of starlings high in the air
will so suddenly and simultaneously all
turn on their sides showing only the
edges OF their wings, that the flock for
an instant is lost to sight.
The flock will also suddenly break I'D
into divisions, then unite again, perform
some singular evolution, and then fly
onward to resting place. A pheasant
once flew across the track of a flock of
starlings, and was instantly killed by
the shock.
Starlings make their nests very care
iessly out of straw. roots, twigs and dry
grass, and in all sorts of places
nower-pots, chimneys, deserted rabbit.
burrows, clefts Of rock, old ruins, or
ihe holes OF trees and they not only
allow bits OF grass or straw to hang
earelessly down from the nest, as though
TO invite robbers, but when thew return
to their homes with food for their little
ones, they make great uproar about
Yet starlings are very fond of their
young. In one instance starting had
built its nest in the thatch of barn.
and the building took fire. As the
names approached the nest, the poor
parent was in great agony, and flying
to its domicile, caught up one bird and
carried it to place of safety, then re-
turned for another, and happily saved
all its little ones from the fearful
flames.
Siarlings have an amusing habit of
snatching beakful Of wool Of sleeps
back to help about their rest-building,
When tanned, the startling learns to
speak very distinctly, and is a very en-
PERTAINING pet. 1t seems that it was
taught to utter words in Shakespeare s
time, for the great poet, in Henry w.,
makes Hotspur exclaim -
" He said lie would not ransom Mortimer;
Forbade my tongu. to 81 sak of Mortimer
But will find him when he lies asleep.
And in his ear I'll halloo Mortimer!
Nay,
III have starting shall be taught to 80. ak
Nothing but Mortimer, and give it him
10 keep his anger still in notion
And Laurence Sterne-who lived in
the last century, and has name cele-
brated in English literature-in his
work called 1.-THE Sentimental jour
ney, represents startling in cage as
repeating over and over, in voice that
was at first taken to be childs,--
can't get out, can't get out!'
The maybe, cunning as fox, i'm
pudent, gay, voracious, and excessive
ly mischievous is another of the par.
Tot's rivals. 1t is an incorrigible robber.
stealing tie eggs and tho young ont
OF other birds nests. and even robbing
hens nests but as it consumes snails.