The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-25
1IH| AM
BIRDS
IS Highly Developed, Says Pro-
fessor5 Wood Of Washington.
SUPERIOR TO THAT OFM0NkEYS
wild Turkeys Have a Dozen Words to
Express Their Ennotions---LarSe
Vocabulary OF the Hen.
Silent Bird Language.

Professor Nelson R. Wood. taxtder-
mist Of the National Museum, In Wash
ington, has completed study OF the
sounds OF birds. and after years of In
5yestigation he IS prepared to maintain
that they have a language, says the New
Yorl. Sun.
II don't want to be understood as say
ing that It IS of a high order order of Of, develop
ment," said Professor; Wood, because
long study or the subject has developed
the fact that the language Of birds, while
sufficient FOR their somewhat limited
needs. is necessarily crude. And yet I
do not hesitate TO say that bird language
is FAR ahead of anything thus far deyel-
oped by or likely to come OF lnvestiSa-
tons into the talk Of monkeys.
.'As 1 said recently before the Amcfl-
can Ornithoiogists' Union. the language
Of birds is now well enough defined by
careful study to classify it as such. It
is impossible to demontrate in print prac-
ticalIys how far progress has been made
in the development Of bird language be-
cause it is only by correctly Initiating
the various sounds Of bird notes zex-
pressing different feelings that we can
demonstrate the wonderful gifts they
have.
IAN 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
more expressive and OF WIDER range
thln many of the finest song birds. Iii
ali the comparisons, however, l except
the parrot, Which I regard as more Of a
human than bird.
THE bird Language has notes indi-
eating all the emotions-envy, love, jeai-
ousy, contentment, 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 stage is demon
strated to the satisfaction Of all who have
given the subject any serious and lntelll-
gent consideration.
~ assert that the language of birds is
of a higher order than anything it is
possible TO make out of the chatter OF
band Of monkeys. And yet I. do not place
the bird ahead Of the monkey in the scale
Of intelligence. 1t is the monkeys mi
tative faculty which impresses us. His
chattering sounds are not susceptible OF
intelligent graduation into more than the
simpler expressions.
WIDE VOCABULARY.
.sThe American wild turkey, one of The
finest fowls of the Western world, or the
Eastern for that matter, affords one OF
the best illustrations Of the versatility OF
bird language. It has a vocabulary OF
at least a dozen words, well defined. for
instance, its constant peril from Ealt a
Cozen sources, overhead and und7rloot
renders necessary different notes to cx-
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, we'll drawn
out, which cautions every membe: OF the
flock. For immediate danger it gives an
entirely different note, quick, sharp, pro
lcnged, tremulous. meaning: Hide, the
enemy the enemy!'
'.When danger threats from i fox or a
dog distinct signal must be used. From
the hawk or the eagle the turkey must
hide on the ground in The undel!Iush
From the dog or the fox he must fly
IN into the trees. Thus, when the dog
or the fox appears the signal to fly is
given. The same note as the flying signal
is used when there is a suspicion of dan
ger on the ground. except that the note
is prolonged instead of being quickly ut
tered. The instant the warning of danger
from an unknown enemy on the ground
is neard every Difd IN Inc llDch&c ceases
feeding. With necks elongated, looking
carefully in every direction, the flock cir.
cles around until it has covered an area
great enough to show that the alarm was
groundless.
when feeding In a field where the
food is plentiful and of the kind it likes
the turkey hasa sound of contentment
varying at the different stages, until the
flna. word from the patriarch of The
flock checks the meal instantly, and away
they go. The turkey also has words OF
sounds of defiance, often combined with
the gobble Of the male. Its vocabulary
includes a ringing note of exultallon
when he has conquered a foe and distinct
and characteristic expressions for envy
want, pain, pleasur alarm. or comfort.
SINGING Birds.
Generally the song of the singing bird