The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-30
A Subject ia Which Many Are TAX
ing Interest at the Present
Time.
a Chicago Physician Relates His
Experience With His Pet
Squirrel
Hs ~ sure That n 1aiks 60 Him aud
Understands much That tie
saya


fact: that these vocal sounds are OF sudi-
c!ent range "a express other than mere
physical ideas and thus 90 assume the inn
por;ance 81 language is probable, al
though az yet improved.
For the last three years | have had "A
tano fox squirrel OF which have made a
great pet Polly has occupied cage in
the laboratory where she has been for the
most part shut on from the sights and
sounds of the outside world Although az
TUNES the laboratory has had other ten
ants In the shape az squirrels, rabbits aud
guinea pigs, she has formed no particu-
lar attachment Tor any OF them, but when
, am about she Is usually close tn me,
either on my shoulder or following me
about like dog
Unconsciuusly nc first and later with a
definite purpose have talked 90 her much
a. one would talk 10 a young child. About
a year ago she began 60 reply 20 my con
vcrsation. Al first twas only ia response
20 my questions as 90 food, ETC., but later
Der "talkn has assumed larger proper
tIons, until now she will, Of her own ac-
cord. assume the initiative
Her vocabulary appears 10 be quite eN-
teusive, aui while for the most part il per
tains 60 matters of food and personal COM
fort there ARE times when 10 seems rs
though She were trying 60 tell me Of other
tLiugs.
When first 90 ont where she is I'm the
morning, she Immediately asks for food,
and until that want Is supplied she keeps
up a constant muttering. Later when her
hunger Is appessed she will ask TO De let
cut of the cage. often when playing about
the room she will climb onto my shoulder
D D D.. d.. L..
and then scamper of Unless sheis sleepy
she viii always reply 20 any remark made
10 her.
Her speech Is not the chattering ordi-
narily observed in squirrels, but low
cultural tone that rcminds one both OF
the low notes of frog and the ciuck OF a
chicken. Some OF the notes ] have been
able 60 repeat. aud invariably she becomes
alert and replies 20 them. Unfortunately,
the effort 90 reproduce her tones produces
an uncomfortable effect on my throat, and
! have been Obliged % desist from further
experiments in that direction. The sounds
that she makes are quick and In low tone,
10 the attempt 90 isolate words is very diff
fcult, vet there is az much range o. inflec-
zion as in German.
Another reason why believe she is en-
deavoring to communicate with me is that
sba has used the same sounds toward
other squirrels confined in tho same cage,
and that, while she will answer any one
who addresses her, she Voluntarily will
only talk at length 10 me. That she under
stands what is said TO Ecr Is beyond Ques-
ton and, furthermore, she viii distin-
guish between a remark ulado TO her and
one made 70 some one else.
When Polly first commenced talking,
/ regarded it merely as idle chattcrinI
but further observation shows that 80 is
not such, aud that the sounds she makes
nave definite meaning. Moreover the
sounds she makes in "talking' are not
the shrill notes OF anger or alarm. but
low, clear sounds that are Enthusiastically
Grticulate
lnmy fondnoss for pet have Ioveres-
timated the valueof the sound, she makes,
or am / right in assigning to them the
characters Of specchs Why should an ami
NAL not attempt 10 communicate with
mani The higher animals are possessed
Of "a well formed larynx and vocal chords.
Why, then, should we deny OF ever quos-
tion the possibility OF articulate speechg
And if they can converse among them
selves why may they not attempt 90 com
municate with MANI
Any one who has owned 20 well bred dog
can relate numerous instances in which
bis dog has clearly understood what was
said 20 Il, and the readiness with which
dog learns q new command shows au IN
telligcuce Of high order. Although a
dogs vocabulary Is 81 limited range. IL
has certain definite sounds that possess un
unmistukable meaning There Is the short,
sharp bark that t.pr sse- "a want, the
low nervous bark llut means disc0m-