TALKING BIRDS AT THE ZOO.
The parrot is generally supposed to have the monopoly of the power of talking among birds; but as a matter of fact the parrot's voice is decidedly inferior to that of the raynah. There are always examples of these birds in the insect house at the Zoo, and they repeat various phrases with great clearance of utterance. Curiously enough, the hen has a gruff voice, while the cock speaks in a clear, high tone like that of a child. The mynahs can be easily provoked into showing off their power of speech, and will greet the visitor with "Good morning" in response to his salutations. The mynah is a kind of starling, and this latter bird is well known for its imitative powers. Some years ago an account was published of a " talking canary," which could articulate quite plainly, and would repeat a series of phrases. But the. wonder is not that there are so many different kinds of birds which can " talk," but that there are not more; the voice organs are. equally perfect in construction pi all these higher birds.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8162, 25 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)
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187TALKING BIRDS AT THE ZOO. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8162, 25 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)
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