The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1891-07-10
AIRY PETS.
JED THE LANGUAGE
#HEIR OWNERS.
Ems Incredible, but There Ars We'll
authenticated Cases-ons Can
whistle a Bar of 'sGod
Save the Queen"

Us dlIuOSt luCTeClplc tldI a Ca
Bnld be taught to speak, never
Is, there have been well author IL
Gated cases in which this seemingly
impossible feat has been accomplished.
The most notable instance was ttat
of 4 canary exhibited in London in
1853, and it had a most remarkable
history. Its parents had previously
successfully reared several broods. ont
in the early part Of the year in ques-
ton Matched out but one of four eggs
Strange to say, they entirely neglected
the little one, and Immediately rebuilt
a nest over it. The owners OF the
bird accidentally discovered this fact
and removed the forsaken one almost
dead. 1t was placed in flannel by the
fire and after the greatest attention
was restored and raised by hand. The
fact OF its being treated in this manner,
separated from all other birds, caused
it 10 become very familiar with its ios-
ter parents and its first singing notes
were entirely different from those ut
tered by ordinary canaries. Being
continually addressed in endearing
terms by its mistress it astonishej her
one day BY suddenly repeating the
words .Kissie! kissiein This became
an every day occurrence, and fpm
time to time other terms were e.a.s;al
TO its vocabulary. For hours together,
except during the moulting season.
this extraordinary bird would call out
in tones almost as clear as If uttered
by a human voice such sentences as
Dear sweet Titchie."-the name
given it by its mistress kiss Min
niem kiss me, dear AIinnier" ks
sic! l1lssie! 6issie! sweet little TitchielA
Woe. gee, gee, Titchie, sweet Itch
ie.' 1t also developed faculty for
whistiing, the first bar of God Save
the Queen being its favorits air.
Another talking canary Is said to
have been exhibited in London in
1888, hut all the authorities agree
that it was in no way equal to the one
described.
Gray the noted poet gives very
minute account of a canary owned by
woman who kept a coffee house in
Pail Mali, London, and states that this
bird could whistle no less than twenty
different tunes.
The noted Lady Sandwich was a
great lover of birds, and hearing Of
the wonderful performances of this
canary became very anxious to possess
it. She accordingly deputized her
friend Lord Peterborough to purchase
IT, lie proceeded to the coffee house
and made overtures to the owne,
Offering a large sum of money for her
feathered pet. The woman steadfastly
refused, saying she was well-to-dD,
and would not part with it under any
circumstances
Peterborough, during the conversi-
ton, watched The bird with the great
est attention, and took note of all its
marks and other distinguishing fea-
lures. Seeing his errand was fruit
less one, he determined to compass his
ends by deceit, and alters long search
succeeded in purchasing a bird which
was counterpart OF the one coveted.
Shortly after the first interview he
sauntered into the cofTee-house. and
when favorable opportunity pre-
sen.ed itself slipped the wrong bird
into the cage. the right one into lis
pocket, and fastened to Lady Sand
wich's domicile. This was about thu
time --f the rovol- ton, and ns71+
months later he dropped into the
eoTee-house and seeing the substi-
tuted bird still hanging IN its accus-
toned place, remarked to the propri-
etor:
"Ah. my dear woman, I guess you
have often regretted your refusal of
the money | offered you for that bird.
"doney.n exclaimed the old lady;
no. nor ten times that arOunt would
now persuade me to part I III the dear
little creaturei Why if Your lordship
will believe me, as sure GsTm chris
tian, its a fact that the poor bird has
moped and never once opened its
pretty lips since the day that the poor
king went awayr'
It is almost needless TO state that
his lordship did not disabuse her mind
OF this notion and she probably died
firm in the belief Of the remarkable
fealty OF her pet.