FOWL LANGUAGE.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 426, 23 June 1904, Page 5

FOWL LANGUAGE.

Old "Zoo" Favorite Acquitted of a Serious Charge. ;:'•'' A painful impression was created in zoological circles; the other week, when Ara Hyacinthiria, aged thirty, described as a blue macaw, living at the Parrot House, was charged before Mr Pocock, the superintendent, with using objectionable knguage before visitors to the " Zoo." The assistant-superintentent, who acted as prosecutor, opened the case after the gardens were closed to visitors. He briefly explained that the charge was based on the letter of a correspondent of the " Daily Illustrated Mirror," which stated that the writer had been sworn at by a parrot. For the credit of the gardens he thought that a charge of this nature should not go uninvestigated. The prisoner, who appeared to feel his position keenly, was- respectably dressed in a costume of blue feathers, and was accommodated with a perch in the dock. Evidence was first given by the head-keeper of the Parrot House. Ara had been in the gardens for just 20 years, and witness had known him for thirteen years. He had never known the accused to make use of unseemly expressions, but pressed by the prosecutor he admitted that tbe bird had an impediment in his speech, and that some of the words might have been of a fowl nature. The old bare-eyed cockatoo said that he had been in the. house for thirty* six years. He knew accused as a boy, and was confident from what he knew of his character that the indistinct words were inoffensive. Ara was allowed to give evidence on his own behalf. In view of the nature of the charge, he said, he preferred not to be sworn, and was accordingly permitted to affirm in the Scotch fashion. He entered a total denial to the charge. VThe Bench considered that the prisoner had cleared himself, and ordered the clerk to give him a handful of seed from the poor-box. The charge, added Mr Pocock, ought not to have been brought.