The Birds of Wyoming. 105 



They usually learn to repeat all of their words and phrases 

 by the time they are a year old. I have not found any one who 

 has paid special attention to teaching them to talk ; but believe 

 that one could by spending a reasonable amount of time teach 

 them many times as much as they generally know. In three 

 instances I have collected data as to what the magpies say, 

 with the following results : 



No. I. Owner, Mrs. J. Rhone ; bird's name, Mike ; words 

 or phrases repeated: Sic-em; Hello; Good-by; Here, Major; 

 Hello, Major; Hello, Mag; Get out of these; Come in; What 

 do you say? Stick of wood; Eliza. This bird also laughs. 



No. II. Owner, Mrs. Dr. Coburn ; bird's name, Topsy; 

 words or phrases repeated : Topsy ; Hello ; Good-by ; Quit ; 

 Topsy-opsie ; Pshaw ; Pshawie ; Oh ! Topsy ; Pretty Topsy ; 

 Ah there. This bird chatters, but words not distinguishable. 

 It whistles, laughs and coughs. When quite young there was 

 a lady neighbor of Mrs. Coburn's, who had a very bad con- 

 sumptive's cough. The magpie soon learned to imitate the 

 cough and has practiced it ever since. Age of bird, 12 years. 



No. III. Owner of bird, Mrs. Hertzog; name, Jack; age 

 of bird, 15 years; words or phrases repeated: Hello; Good 

 morning; Good-by; Pretty polly ; What's the matter with the 

 bird — he's a dreadful nice bird — rats ; What's the matter with 

 the bird — precious bird ; Maggie ; Good-by, love ; Get there ; 

 Come in ; Oh, Clara ; Nettie ; What. This bird laughs, sneezes 

 and coughs. Mrs. Hertzog has two birds. They call each 

 other by name and answer — what. They are also great imi- 

 tators. Upon seeing Mrs. Hertzog picking flowers they will 

 do the same. They are also very anxious to ride upon a wheel- 

 barrow when in motion or upon a swinging gate. Her birds 

 are very quick to find cut-worms about plants and will steal 

 eggs and little chickens and eat them. They will not eat angle 

 worms ; but will catch and hang them over their perches. I am 

 greatlv indebted to the owners of these birds for this infor- 

 mation. 



