Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-22
MANY BIRDS CAN TALK
STORIES ABOUT PARROTS AMI
OTHER IMITAToRs OF MAN.
The Red-and- Yellow Macaw-The Par
son or TUT of New
Zealand
From the London Express.

From the London Express.
AS one of the judges at the Express
parrot competition, / had an opportunity
of noting. not by any means for the first
time, the extraordinary public interest in
talking birds, and also the capriciousness
Of the familiar gray parrots, which, al
though known to be the best takers, re-
quire patience in those who want to hear
them speak in company. Other parrots OF
less repute are often less shy, and some
times speak as WELL though undoubtedly
intellectual ability is far more general
among the gray birds. 1 remember, some
ten years ago, seeing at bird show at Ok
ford a specimen of the common green ring
neclked parrakeet or india which continual
ly talked during the exhibition.
Its voice was high and thin; but its re-
quest, Waiter, bring Polly pint of beer,
quick, quick! quicki' was unmistakable
in its clearness. This bird was a hen and
sex often seems to influence the talking
capacity of a parrot A hen red-and-yel-
low macaw in the Calcutta Geological Gar
denS, which had been received by exchange
from the London Zoo, used to say Come
on, Cocky!' with absolute perfection of in
tonation, while her mate never said word.
In India l also heard of specimen of the
native green parrakeet which must have
been an extraordinary talker. Its owner
a soldier-said that the bird (Which by the
way, he did not want to selD spoke Engi sh,
Hindustani and Japanese and picked up
fresh expressions so Oily that he was
afraid to swear at the servants before it,
Indian Parrakeets.
The Indian parakeets Were those first
known to the ancients. and the bird which
belonged to Corinna, the beloved of Ovid,
has been immortalized by the poet 1t was,
he said. more brilliant green than emeralds,
hi md lac dc
"Corinna farewell!'
Another Roman parrot was, like our fiscal
friends, educated in politics, and is made
to remark:
For other names your teachings may may, avail
taught myself to utter Caesar. hail.! :"
1t is far cry, indeed, from ancient Rome
to modern New Zealand, but from the lat
ter country comes an anecdote of political
bird whose utterance was very much to the
point. This was not a parrot. but tut, or
parson-bird. The tut is a large honey
sucker about as big a miSSel-thruSh.
with lovely bronze-black plumage set Off
by pair of white neck-tufts, recalling
parsons bands. 1t is a clever mocker and
learns to speak.
This particular bird belonged to an old
chief, Nepia Taratoa. whom, together with
many other natives, Sir Walter Butler was
once addressing on some matter of grave
political import The naturalist politician
who tells the story against himself had only
master could reply. the tut called out from
his cage overhead. Tito" falseD with I'M
mistakable emphasis. 1t was too much for
the audience, and Nepia Taratoa himself,
overcome with the rest laughingly remark
ed that Sir Walters arguments were sound
enough. but that the bird was clever, and
still unconvinced!
The Parson Bird.
The parson bird is a convincing proof of
the fact that birds do not talk with their
tongues, for, being honeysucker, the tut
has long, ezSSnsible tongue, with firing
ed tip, as unlike Ne human tongue as pos
sible. AS a matter of fact. a birds voice
is formed in the syrinx, which is quite low
down in the windpipe, and, therefore. can
not have ANYTHING at all to do with its
tongue in any case. OF other talking birds
not of the parrot family the most celebrat-
ed is the Indian hill mynah, large, thick
set starting, glossy back, with orange BILL
In India, its native home. it is often Kept as
a pet, and when it talks really well is
perfect wonder to listen to.
The best / ever heafd-in fact, the best
talking bird of any kind | have met-be-
longed to friend in Calcutta, and spoke in
an absolutely human way, with a deep,
throaty voice. He required some coaxing
before he would display his talents. and the
method employed was to get a native ser
vant-a very good fellow, but of somewhat
bibuIous tastes-to talk to him. So this
he spoke English well-the mynah's own
phrases to the bird. But the mynah would
not say who are your I'm off to Lon
dom or any other of his set phrases In
stead he would, after a while. come out
with mot a drop to save my soul!' which