Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22
A WONDERFUL PARROT.
Stories Incredible If They Did Not Como
From the Man They Do-The Bird Can
ImproEise Music, See q Joke and Call
People-Its Memory.

Stories Incredible IL They Did Not Como
From the Man They Do-The Bird Can
ImproEise Music, See a Joke and Call
People-Its Memory.
rcoRREsPoNpENcE OF THE DISPATCH,
PARIS, May 12.-For % years have had
female parrot from the Gaboon, with
ashy gray plumage and red tail, now about
4S years old. This bird is SO remarkably
intelligent that it seems to me interesting
to bring her into notice.
Although she retains and initiates all the
noises and sounds she hears, the distinguish
ing mark of this bird is peculiar origin
ality which is hers alone, and which makes
her at once an imitator and a creator. Be
fore this bird became mine she was in
Paris, in house which contained great
many tenants She initiated to deceive
you the language of the sparrows which
haunted the roots and the yard of the
house, their springtime troubles for the
possession of a nest, aud all their daily
quarrels She also initiated the street cries
of Paris, especially that of the old-clothes
man. During the war in 1870, sent her to
the country while took my place in the
army or Paris. Her repertory then became
enriched by all the sounds of nature the
quail, the owl. the magpie, the cock and
the hen, in all their vocal manifestations
Can Give . Pigs Death squeaI.
She excels in the phonetic reproduction
of the killing of pig, at which she has
certainly been present She first repeats
the interrupted cries, grave or sharp, utter
ing the impatience and fright of the animal
as it is being dragged to the place of execu-
tion; then comes the agonized squeals of the
throat-cutting and the death agony, and all
this is given with the same shading. grada-
tion and power as if by the animal ITSELF
Although she has not heard these sounds
for % years, this funereal phantasy still
passes occasionally through her brain, and
she makes the windows of my house rattle
with it till we are obliged to silence her.
My parrot observes every movement made
in preparing for an action which is itself
accompanied by q sound, and she makes the
sound beforehand. If she sees me ap-
proach an open window and make ready to
close it, she Immediately makes the sound
that will be oecasioned by the window be-
fore l have vet touched it, and the same
sort of manifestation is made if 60 to open
q window. If produce my handkerchief
she blows her nose. If she sees ME take
my overcoat she instantly mades in advance,
with her wings, the motion which L must
make with my arms in putting on the gar
msnt. She initiates the sound of dropping
water. If she sees me with a glass con-
tanning liquid, or only sees me approach
one, she initiates Immediately, and in ad-
vance, the sound of deglutition, and of the
descent of liquid into the throat If she
sees a cat, or if anybody calls cat, she in
stantly initiates the various forms of cat
language; and the same with dogs, horses
and donkeys Into all these limitations, fire.
quently interrupted by her own bursts of
laughter, my parrot throws a meaning, a
mischief, will, that are completely intelli-
gent.
Can Appreciate Joke.
But the most important thing to notice in
the case of this bird is her ability to under
stand what is taking place about her, and
to take part in everything by her language
and actions. When we talk in her presence
she takes part in the conversation by "ohs"
and ''ahs" of astonishment, or of approba-
tion interjected at the appropriate moment.
She almost taints away with laughter if we