The evening times., 1899-02-01
AN AUTOPSY UPON
A REMARKABLE BIRD
THREE SPECIALISTS ATTEND
Scientists Pronounce That hynah,
Miss Thursby's Pet, Died From
spinal Meningitis.

New York, Feb. 1.-Mynah, the $4,000
bird, presented by the Emperor William
TO Miss Emma Thursby, the death of which
occurred a day or two ago, has had an
honor accorded TO il not yet bestowed upon
any pet bird, however much beloved by
their mistresses, or however great their
endowment OF wisdom and vocal superior
ity. Miss Thursby's late bird has been the
subject of an autopsy. When This was de-
termined upon three eminent specialists
were called in First, DR.. Hoibrook Curtis
OF Thirtieth Street and Madison Avenue;
then DIR. Frank Miller No 16 East Forty
second Street, and. finally the house phys
ician of the GrameTcy. whose name Is
withheld by the elevator boy. To DR.. Cur
It's, who treats all the great prime dome,
went the larynX; TO DR.. Miller went the
brain and interior economy, and TO the
house physician went regrets that the
Mynah was not a Si8mese twin so that he
might have something TO look at, too.
But 10 soothe his scientific desire he was
/ allowed 10 inspect the other things second
! hand and also TO agree with the Two asso-
ciates that spinal meningitis had robbed
! the world of this supernatural curiosity.
Ii had been supposed at the first symp-
tom of sickness that the mynah had tie
! grip, then when he died that the grip had
him But the autopsy disclosed otherwise.
! Dr.. Miller in his examination found three
! yiscous discoloraJions upon the meduI!a
] oblongata. a sure indication Of spinal men
| ingitis, and that the bird had got IL in tae
| neck.
DR.. Curtis Who had once examined the
mynah during life got the larynx early in
the day, and was then able TO examine it
closely without peril 10 his right eye, the
mynah having resented this personal in
trospection on 4 former occasion. DR.. Cur
lis found the vocal organs OF extraordinary
size and strength, capable of wide disten
sion, and the chords large and vibrant.
This. he said, explained the mynah's abil-
ity 10 range through a scale between the
roar of an ocean liners pipe and the shrill
squeak OF a penny Christmas fife.
The presentation to Miss Thursby of this
wonderful bird was made at Ems by a
German baron. acting for the Emperor.
He explained its species.
1t is an Acridotheres Tristis, said he
in an airy Heidelberg way. 1t is of the
| type of gracuiae. and-eh2 Pardon. mad
anne, / did the swear not have. II is its
name, yes, and you may call il a mynah
for short. "
Here. Mynah, called Miss Thursby
Here pretty Mynahl"
Was ist?' cTeaked the mynah in a
superior voice. "Ach. Raus!"
Here, Mynah,' said the baron you
must not come 10 this hotel any more.
Your hotel is across the park
Sure" responded the intelligent bird
in fluent German. and flew across the
park. Miss Thursby found it waiting for
her. and from then on it acknowledged its
mistress and the corn she gave him to eat.
Also, il went regularly TO the table dhote
and drank red wine. and was only one re-
move from becoming a regular Bohemian
and writing bad verse
The usual mynah is found in India. par
ticularly about the Himalayan tablelands
but this one is said TO have come from
Africa.
How do we know" asks Miss Thurs
by. Because he said so himself?"
| A visitor just arrived from China sud-
denly started up from her seat exclaiming
There's a Chinaman; he's in trouble. "
From the kitchen came the dolorous chant
"Ayah, Ayah. Ayah!" the dirge that fol-
lows all Celestials TO their resting place
among their ancestors.
Its no Chinaman at ALL" said Miss
Thursby. its a bird.
The Swami Vivekananda and The Swami
| Abekananda set the price upon Mynah S
| head.
1T is a marvel said they; "a fit bird
TO perch upon the sacred finger of Lal Rao.
Peace be unto il.
Its last words were a dirgeful chanting
of "Au clare de la Lune." 1t will be
stuffed. and its epitaph shall be:
Hail, blithe spirit, bird thou never
vert"