Evening star., 1932-11-30

Now, 1t will BE found that the con-
versational voice is always the one re-
membered the best, usually because IL Is
| the most pleasing.
The ordinary speaking voice. the real
| voice Of customary usage, B the one In
which the nuances come into their own,
making that real individuality which Is
the delight of the discriminating lis
tener, whether the speaker Ia human or
a Pretty Polly.
1t is asserted that parrots and similar
birds have no way Of understanding in
the slightest what they are saying, and
no doubt this is true; but one who has
at any time been much around such
creatures will feel inclined to believe
that his own bird at least manifests at
times an almost human interest in what
1t Is saying, especially in the way II
SAYS 1t.
Just what motivates a parrot In run
ming from one to another Of Its sayings
will interest the listener at distance,
especially II he happens to know moth
| ing at all about such birds.
Does the parrot have an ordinary
sequence, always going through its stock
Of learning in exactly the same order,
or does what 1t says depend absolutely
upon chance?
There can be little doubt that these
birds have certain favorite combinations
The parrot with the charming voice
OF which we have spoken uttered GER
tain words over and over again, day
after day. and these were invariably the
most easily understood by listener.
1t had q large stock Of other phrases
which perhaps were as readily compre-
hended, but which an outsider not
| familiar with them found practically
impossible to understand.
Especially was this applicable to short
words. monosyllables and two-syllabled
words.
Here the bird was thrown entirely on
its ability as u human spokesman, and
here 1t Jared least well, at least in the
understanding of listeners at large; for
it was dependoct upon syllable forma-
tions entirely, and was not helped-in
listening ears-by any context.
1t was possible, therefore, for the
admirer at a distance to give one or
more meanings to the sounds it made
at times. Occasionally 1t seemed to re-
vert to the wild, especially in case its
cage was disturbed rudely. Then 1t
would utter a succession OF quick
"awks," which seemed to be much dis
Polly into a dignified quiet.
This parrot had q sweet voice. one
which pleased the ear at the time, as
well as fingered on In the memory when
1t was heard no more.
Such Is the power of voice, whether
belonging to creature or human being.
Those who are fond of the animals
know that no two of their voices are
exactly alike, although to the less dis
eliminating there will be no difference.
But just as no two cows moo exactly the
same, so the barks of no two dogs are
precisely alike, nor the rneows Of any
pair of cats.
Always there Is a distinct something
in one which distinguishes 1t from an
other voice. This precise difference
often takes much listening, and, above
all, q real liking for the creature In
order that 1t may b noted and realized
in its full significance. This significance
Is nothing more nor less than the secret
name Of the animal, which has
no other way Of revealing it. Thus
owners Of pets in time come to enjoy a
comradeship which Is distinctly crea-
ton of two living creatures in special
and peculiar sense. Those who have
been so busy or so Indifferent that they
do not understand this from experience
win scarcely ever understand 1t. Even
an understanding listener could never
hope to understand or appreciate the
parrot with the sweet voice as its owner
name Of the animal itself, since 1t has
does