TALKING LOVEBIRD.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5248, 18 April 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

TALKING LOVEBIRD.

SELF-TAUGHT. HE IMITATES HUMANS. A lovebird, no larger than a canary (writes tho " Daily Mail” of 127t1i December), has taught itself to speak as fluently and as distinctly ns tho best talking parrots at tho village of Amblosidc, near Stourbridge, Worcestershire. The bird is of exquisite plumage, nnd belongs to Mr J. Skidmore, of Stamford House, Amblosidc, a wellknown resident in tho district. It was given to Mr Skidmore about six months ago by his son-in-law, who had it for eighteen months without its showing any powers of conversation.

During Ihe last few months of its life in Worcestershire, however, it has acquired a remarkable aptitude for repeating all that is said to it, though it has received no special training.

To a Correspondent who " interviewed" it last night the bird suddenly remarked, " Kiss me quick," giving an anticipatory smack. It politely remarked, " How do you do ?" and flatteringly added, "You’re a little beauty, aren’t you ?" all in a soft tone that was quite distinct from the raucous accents of tho average, parrot. It melodiously whistled a couple of bars of tho National Anthem, and proceeded to give some very realistic imitations of tho calls of thrushes, sparrows, and linets.

“ Hanschcn," ns the bird is named, weighs barely an ounce, and is believed to be the smallest bird of his kind capable of imitating human speech. His chief companion is a large stulTcd green parrot, without which he is never happy, and whoso plumage ho has so pecked away with kisses that tho entire head and neck are now bald. Tho lovebird, whenever taking a meal of millet seed, places a little within the motionless |>eak of the stuffed parrot, though when iu a conversational mood, he frequently indulges in furious attacks on his silent companion.