The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-08-23
FEATHERED MIMICS.
Charming Solos by the Songsterf
OF the Grove.
Some Of the More Accomplished Are Ex-
pert NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Give Good
limitations Of the Human Voice
Stimulation of Death.

Undoubtedly, the most perfect min
ic among the feathered tribes is the
American moclting bird, bird belong
ing to the thrush family. On accoun
of fits wonderful powers of imitation
the aborigines of Mexico called i
centcontlatlolli-namely, four hundred
tongues or languages. 1t is during
the daytime that its initiative power,
are usually exhibited; and so perfect i:
its mimicry OF the songs of other birds
that even the most practiced ear is
easily deceived thereby. Although il
has never been known to initiate the
human voice, its powers extend to the
mimicry Of the cries and calls OF other
birds, the mewing of cats, the barking
of dogs. cock-crowing, hen-cackling,
pig-squeaking, creaking of hinges and
numerous other sounds.
The best imitator OF the human
voice is the parrot; but its powers as a
mimic are so well known that we need
not stay to enumerate them.
1t must not be supposed that this
faculty is confined to one or two spe-
cies, for it is possible that most birds
are more or less endowed with it.
Many Of the British species are excel
ent mimics, and although by no means
so proficient in the art as their foreign
brethren, The term "mocking-bird"
might be very appropriately applied to
not few. The development of these
powers frequently takes place when in
confinement, the exercise of the faculty
seeming to afford much enjoyment to
the performer. Among the British
birds which may be taught to utter
words and short sentences are magpie,
jay. startling and jackdaw. The first
mentioned OF these, it is said, may be
taught to speak almost as plainly as
the parrot does; and the starting may
be taught to say almost any thing, as
we'll as to whistle tunes. A goldfinch
has been known to mimic to the life the
chirp of the sparrow. the "Spink,
sphinx" OF the chatllnch the twittering
of the swallow, the bell-like "scold"
of the blackbird. the notes OF the oxeye
tit, the bunting. the whitethroat and
the wren--in fact, any and every birds
cry that he had the chance OF hearing
during his ten years confinement.
The bullHnch is notable imitator
OF tunes, while the canary frequently
reproduces parts OF the airs that have
been whistled or played in his hearing.
There is on record a most interesting
and curious case of mimicry by
canary. A gentleman, having taken
temporary rooms in London lodging
house. was much disturbed during his
first evenings stay there by the per-
sistent striking of clock utterly re-
gardless OF time) outside his room.
1t became so annoying to him that he
opened the door for the purpose of
calling his landlady, when, to his sur
prise, the sound suddenly ceased.
Upon questioning tho landlady he
found that the sound was made by
pet canary whose cage was placed in
window-seat outside his door. The
imitation was SO exact that it was i'm
possible toidetect the fraud by the ear
alone.
Reculver, Marsh, on the coast OF
Kent, IS much frequented by lapwings
and sky-larks, the latter of which have
adopted the peculiar and well-known
alarm-cr OF the plover These birds
are also imitators of the cry of the
ringed plover. Professor Newton tells
q another imitator Of the lapwing-
the starting, who, moreover, has been
heard to initiate the twittering of the
swallow. Jays, again. are said to be
able to reproduce the peculiar notes of
the carrion crow.
There are very few persons who
have intruded upon the nesting ground
OF the lapwing who have not been de-
ceivedsby the piteous cry and painful
fiutterihg Of an apparently-woundel
bird; for the ployer is an excellent
mimic in this respect, and by these
means succeeds In drawing of the
novicdfrcm her nested treasure. Tit
larks, wild ducks, wagtails and sand
pipers also thus exercise their reason
ing faculties and powers Of mimicry.
Decentralization is q species Of
mimicry or fraud not unirequently
practfced' by birds when suddenly
alarmed. The following is one out of
the numerous instances that might be
cited: Some ten yards from hor nest
on. Lough Neagh, water-hen was dis
covered lying on her side, partly in
the water. her head being concealed
by one Of tho large loose stones which
lay about the spot. The bird was
picked up by the tip Of the wing, and
as its limbs were relaxed, and to all
appearance 1t was quite dead, the