New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23
d WONDERFUL TALKER IN FEATHERS.

| THE INTELLIGENT BUT ERRATTC REMARKS OF
| SMALL JAVA FOWL.
dts a musical grackle,r said Mr.. Holden, the
bird man, The bird In question, which being gszed
at by TRIBUNE reporter looked like 6ternes Startling
during protraced SPREE The amount of drunkenness
conveyed by the diOc straddle of its yellow legs ana
occasional swaying hops the floor OF the cage was ap
palng "Yes, sir" continued Mr.. Holden, " he's mu
steal gracklc, scientific Minor, christian name Ros
short for Roscoe because he's good taker with short
temper lie goes to Boston tonight in exchange Tor
checkfOr $685. and he's cheap at any price, How are
you to-day, ROs. Z"
The nebriaed bird staggered against the side OF the
cage for support and cooking his black head on one side
gave senile laugh, and in aggreved tone answered:
None the better for your asking"
whats your name 2" Queried the brd-man.
Roscoe. Handsome ROs." answered tho man-bird.
"Can you sngi Won't you sing Ros. Q" entreated his
owner.
"Peek-aboo peek-a-boo, you hiding there. loan
sing can can sing, I can" chuckled the hendish
fowl
"sing the rest, Ros. Peek-a-b0o-"
"Oh go slow, go slow" contemporary replied the
bird, and staggered about his temporary home with
drunken gravity
"CoDle, sing" said Mr. Holden.
The archaeological Satan deliberately turned his back
and began to pick up stray seed two and MUNICH them
with calm indifference, only betrayng his shocking con-
dition by occasional lurch.
Won't you sing Peek-aboof" entreated his
The bird looked his left shoulder and with air OF
Incfrable dIsdan said Go 10 the deucep
"Oh. you don't that" replied the bird-fancer.
:" Be a good bird and sing" Tho good bird jumped
agcy aronnd and began uttcrng his wings and scream
ing like the midnight cat. won't, won't won't"
he uttered IN the intervals Of the bideOns din.
Come sing, like good bird. Sing Peeka-bOo," aud
Mr. Holden began tho strain dear TO Mr.. scanlan The
In, Tho lanPb
cage, and in voice as hoarse manof-war's boat
swain and cyi glare I'm his or eye croaked out, "Oh,
go to hadesl" and promptly went to sleep.
THAT bird" said Mr. Holden, turning away with a
laugh sis Of the best takers have known He
is in bad temper to-day, he would answer my ques
tions half hour He invariably ends up with those
two choice specimens OF profanity. They the only
ones his vocabulary. and be only employs them when
gets tired and IA bothered. particularly fond OF
getting him 10 talk before ministers and always egg him
TIL he lets out as he has just done"
"why do you let him such language before a
clergyman"
Because they always enjoy It more than a layman
That bird from Java, and IS OF the rarest i'm
ported TO this country and they the most wonderful
takers in the world. Next 10 them come the gray par
rOs, then the 'emOncrested cOckatoOs and the double
yeow-head6d parrots. Those birds YOU huddlcd
together in that cage white Australian parrots. which
pointed a cage about three feet long. in Shich
score Of large white parrots, with faint tnge Of
his mouth when a middlc-agcd woman. wearing long
waterproof cloak, bounced I'm.
You ought tn be ashamed Of yourself, you wicked
mani" she exclaimed cOOpng those poor dear birds up
In that fashion"
But. Madam 90 "
"DDn't Madam me, you Crdel monster They haven't |
room to breathe aud I'm going straight of to dear Mr.
Bergh"
Z" But, assure -"
%" don't your assurances. I'll have you dragged
prison and made 10 let the poor innOcents reew
and she bounced out again.
That's the second this morning." plantively re-
marked the brdauccr. "dnd the fact a. the birds like II
and happier than n they were In separate cages
They huddc together closer than that In their Australian
forests and the natives catch with throw OF
net"
An American cNpressman who had Inst got O receipt
tho assistant at the back of tho store for package
OF money passed out and ~ he went asked the popre
tor what he "coOped them birds up for" To fatten
em for Thanksgiving Day." snapped out Mr.. Holden
" Good gosh! DO folks eat them things Well you do
surprise me- and the cIpre5smdn wagSed his head with
much gravity.
lie believes It," said the Of many birds "he's |
like or my customers The checker the yarn the
better they Ike IT,"