Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-10-18
FEATHERED MIMICS.
Charming Solos by the Songstera
Of the Grove.
Some Of the More Accomplished Are Ell
pert vcntriioquists-other Give Good
limitations of the Human Voice
Stimulation OF Death.

Its mimicry OF the songs Of other birds
that even the most practlced ear is
easily deceived thereby. Although 1t
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. cocl-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
mimic are so we'll 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 1t is possible that most birds
are more or less endowed with It
Many OF the British species are excel
emit 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 aud jackdaw. The first
mentioned OF these. 1t is said, may be
taught to speak almost as plainly as
the parrot does; and the startling may
be taught to say almost any thing. as
we'll as to whistle tunes. A goldflnch
has been known to mimic to the life the
chirp OF the sparrow. the sphinx.
sphinx" Of the chaffinch, 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 bullfinch 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 a
canary. a gentleman. having taken
temporary rooms in London lodging
house. was much disturbed during his
first evenings stay there by the per-
sistont striking OF clock (utterly re-
CARELESS OF time) outside his room.
1t became so annoying 10 him that he
opened the door for tho purpose OF
calling his landlady, when. TO his sur
prise. the sound suddenly ceased.
Upon questioning the landlady he
found that the sound was made by a
pet canary whose cage was placed In O
window-seat outside his door. The
imitation was SO exact that 1t was i'm
possible 10 detect 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-cry OF tho plover. These birds
are also imitators OF the cry OF the
ringcd plover Professor Newton tells
OF another imitator of the lapwing-
the startling, who. moreover, has beer
heard to initiate the twittering Of the
swallow. Jays, again. are said to bt
able TO reproduce the peculiar notes o.
tho carrion crow.
There are very few persons wht
have intruded upon the nesting-grount
Of the lapwing who have not been de.
ceived by the piteous cry and painful
nuttering OF IN apparently-wounded
bird; for the ployer is an excellent
mimic In this respect and by these
means succeeds In drawing of the
novice from her nested treasure. Tit
larks, wild ducks, wagtails and sand
pipers also thus exercise their reason
ing faculties and powers Of mimicry,
Decentralization Is species O
mimicry or fraud 10. unfreqpentlJ
practiced by birds when suddenly
alarmed. The following Is one out o
the numerous instances that might b
cited: Some ton yards from her mes
on Tough Neagh. water-hen was dis
covered lying on her side, partly II
the water, her head being concealed
by one OF the large loose stones whiol
lay about the spot The bird wa
picked up by the tip OF the wing, ant
us It's limbs were relaxed, and to al
appearance IL was quite dead. tn
holder was about 70 drop II 10 tn
ground again. when, TO his intens
, ustonishment the mimic suddenl
r Mapped its wings and took TO flight
a Tho lundrail has been known TO simu
late death In n similar manner, an,
, under the closest examination
showsc not the slightest sign OF life
Tho prctsnsc was continued until som
, ,!nis after II had boon slowed away Il
tia capior's pocket, when. with sud
de-. lIori, II escaped from its prisol
ard C,w away us II nothing had hap
rene,
NJ on.y are certain individuals Q
the feathered trlbos true mimios. bu
II is possible, nay probable, that som,
few are ventriloquists. Mr.. RigI
, Withers tells us that during his wan
behring's in the forests OF Brazil he dis
covered bird-ventriloquist which ha
a peculiar shrieking cry as loud as
peacock's, and which is known as tn
Bell-bird. He thus writes about II
ut is seldom seen in its wild state. be
ing, like the musical frog, a ventrilo
quist Of very high powers. and sun
loving bird, freQuenter Of the highos.
tree-tops, whore lts snow-whito plum,