The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17
HOW BIRDS TALK.
They Are Said to Have More Vocab-
uIary Than Monkeys.
From the Pathfinder

From the Pathfinder.
Much interest has been taken in the
scientific world of late about the Ian
guages of various animals and a museum
for this study has been established at the
University of Pennsylvania. The popular
notion has been that the monkey would
be found to possess the most highly de-
veloped language But now comes soma
testimony in favor of bird language. Prof.
Nelson r. Wood, the taxidermist of the
National Museum at Washington, has been
studying bird sounds for years. Last
week he talked as follows:
1.-THE language of birds, while sufficient
for their somewhat limited needs, Is neces-
sarily crude. And yet I do not hesitate to
say that bird language is far ahead of
anything thus far developed by or likely
to come of Investigations into the talk of
monkeys.
"An interesting phase of the study of
bird language is the discovery that it is
not the most highly developed birds that
have the greatest variety of sounds ex-
pressing different things, and, therefore,
the largest vocabulary On the contrary,
the common field crow has a vocabulary
than many of the finest song birds. In
all the comparisons however, l except
the parrot, which l regard as more of a
human being than a bird.
1.-The bird language has notes indicating
all the emotions-envy, iove, jealousy, con-
tentment, alarm, pain, pleasure. 1t Is
sufficiently comprehensive for the needs
of the different families, and that it is
thoroughly understood even by the young
birds at an early age is demonstrated TO
the satisfaction Of all who have given the
subject any serious and intelligent con-
siCeraton.
Il assert that the language of birds is
of higher order than anything it Is pos
sibla to make out of the chatter of
band of monkeys. 1t is the monkeys imi-
tative faculty which impTesses us. His
chatteTing sounds are not susceptible of
intelligent graduation into more than the
simpler expressions
'"The American wild turkey has a vo-
cabuary of at least a dozen words For
instance, its constant peril from half a
dozen sources. overhead and underfoot.
renders necessary different notes to ex-
press the kind of danger, whether imme-
date or prospective, and the source,
whether in the air or on the ground. For
danger overhead as from a hawk or an
eagle, where the peril IS still remote the
turkey has a low note, well drawn out,
which cautions every member of the flock.
For immediate danger 1t gives an entirely
different note, quick, sharp, prolonged,
tremulous, meaning Hide! The enemy!
The enemyP
when danger threatens from a fox or
a dog a distinct signal must be used From
the hawk OF the eagle the turkey must
hide on the ground in the underbrush.
From the dog or the fox he must fly up
into the trees. Thus when the dog or the
fox appears the signal TO fly is given
when feeding in field where the food
is plentiful and of the kind it likes, the
turkey has a sound of contentment. The
turkey also has words or sounds of de-
flance often combined with the gobbe Of
the male. It's vocabulary includes ring
ing note of exultation when he has con-
quered foe and distinct and character
istic expressions for envy want, pain,
pleasure. alarm or comfort.
Generally the songs of the singing bird
is merely a call for its mate. When the
canary in its gilded cage sings loudest IT
is usually a call of agony, instead of
pleasure. 1t Is pouring out music from it's
throat in the mad endeavor TO call its alb
sent mate to its side. Correctly inter-
preted. 1t is an appeal for freedom, an APP
peal for the happiness Of old, when. with
it's mate, it wandered free in the empire
Of the air.
THE hen bird of the domestic chicken
has as fluent command of language as
almost any member Of the feathered tribe
She is a much more fluent talker than the
male, her lord and master, and her vocab-
uIary discounts anything thus far dscov-
cred in this particular field OF investiga-
ton. The cackle Of the hen Is used, for
instance, for three distinct purposes, and
she has as many distinctive notes. She
uses IN seeking the nest or when calling
fer mate one soft note; another, or trl-
umphant rejoicing as she either flies from
the nest or 10 IT, Likewise. she has three
songs Of distinct types-the love song, a
happy response 10 the eager counting OF
her mate: che song OF indineronce. when
idly hunting Tor food, indicating no cer-
tain purpose In her movements. the luil-
ably song a low, grooming soothing note.
hushing the young chickens 10 sleep.
II have frequently eNperimented with
tho lullaby song By Initiating tho low.
soothing notes, ana little chickens held Va