Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-01-08
HOW THE BIRDS TALK.
SOME POSSESS QUITE AN EXTEND
ED VOCABULARY.


That birds and fowls are able to
talk and to make themselves under
stood by each other, is fact suffi-
GENTLY obvious. Yet their converse
tional powers are considered more or
less mysterious, very little being
known on the subject. Few persons
have thought it worth while to study
the matter, which, from the viewpoint
of the student of nature. may fairly
be regarded as OF more than ordinary
interest.
Here is a scientist ATTACHED To the
Smithsonian institution, Mr.. Nelson r.
Wood, who has made the language OF
birds lifelong study. Not only is he
able to understand good deal that
birds say, but he cali talk to many
feathered creatures so as to make hin-
|, self understood by them. He says that
some birds possess quite an extended
vocabulary; but he adds that it would
be mistake to credit them with any
thing corresponding to articulate
speech, or to suppose that they are
able to sit down and converse with
one another in the ordinary sense OF
the word.
Feathered species differ very much
in their talking powers. The perching
birds, as rule, have but small vo-
cabulary, whereas the widest range OF
speech is found in chickens and tur-
keys-very likely because they have
so many enemies, and must be able
to utter warning notes, both to each
other and to their young.
The turkey has note which signi-
fes immediate danger overhead, AMI
this is different from the sharp and
rapid call that means imminent peril
from something on the ground, as 4
rat, for example. A hawk seen in the
distance calls forth yet another cry.
A fourth note is Of defiance, fifth Of
pain, and sixth Of complaint or re-
monstrance las when the turkey is
being driven) When feeding in an
open meadow call is uttered different
from that voiced in high grass or
bushes, where the fock is to be kept
together. There is a summons to cali
together scattered members Of the
flock; social note, IN manner con-
versational, is also peculiar; and at
night the turkeys on guard have @ spe-
cial signal.
The vocabulary Of chickens, accord
ing to Mr.. Wood, is really quite ex-
tensivc, though many of their notes,
possessing different meanings, are 80
much alike that the unframed observ-
er cannot tell them apart. Those used
for hushing the young to sleep, and for
warning, are closely similar. Most peo-
pie will be surprised to learn that the
everyday hen has three distinct songs.
One of them she utters while seeking
her nest to lay; another is call to
her mate when she is separated from
him; and a third appears to signify
mere abstraction-a grooming to her
self while, perhaps, she is hunting for
food.
The rooster has a song of his own,
though perhaps few persons have heard
it. He uses it only occasionally. 1t is
low, fine whistling, and he will utter
it sometimes on dark day when going
to roost, or when resting in corner
by tinself.
Is 1Nf Nfi ipi m
for study in the way two cocks oppose
each other in rivalry: One of them
let lis say, stands erect gives defiant
chuckle, and drops one wing. This
means fight. If the adversary lowers
his tail, draws his wings up over his
back, raises the feathers behind his
comb slightly, and begins to sing like
a hen, the indication is Of meellness
and fear, and presently he will retreat,
avoiding combat. The fighting roos-
ter Itters short, sharp note.
The parrot has quite an extensive
vocabulary in it's native forest. AS
might be supposed, when it has escaped
from captivity it does not forget what
it learned while a prisoner, and par
rots released from bondage have fire.
quently been heard talking to their
wild companions in civilized human
language.
The parrot ranks high in the scale
of intelligence, and unquestionably un-
derstands the meaning of some of the
words it utters Mr.. Wood once knew
polly that said Good morning" early
in the day, "Goodby" at noon, and
Good night" in the evening. 1t never
made a mistake in these salutations
nor mixed them up. Its accuracy in
this regard could only be explained on
the supposition that it understood the
meaning of the words and had notion
of the time of day.
This parrot lived next door to a
house that had a squeaky gate. Long
alter the gate was nlended, so that it
squeaked no longer, Polly would utter
shrek in imitation of the familiar
sound every time it saw the lady who
occupied the dwelling cross the road
in its direction. Stories of this kind
might be multiplied without number,
going TO show that parrots connect
with ideas the vocal sounds which they
utter.
The crow knows that a man with a
gun is dangerous, and on seeing him
it will utter a note of alarm. Another
note is of intense fear and warning to
the young, as if to say: Keep still
and hide" A third cry is of affection
for the young, for each other, or for
the birds owner. The crow is one Of
the most affectionate Of birds, and
when tanned shows many signs of love
for its master. One of its notes is 4
cultural mixture of Cabling sounds,
uttered perhaps when it is sitting on a
branch in the woods. and apparently
Indicating a bubbling over Of good