INTRODUCTION. 3 



and excitement prevails from the centre to the boundaries. We 

 see, therefore, that the creatures are able at once to inform each 

 other of the event which has happened. 



If we consider in how comparatively small a degree the power 

 of speech differs in mankind, from the most highly cultivated 

 down to the savage scarcely capable of civilisation, then we 

 must allow that the examples of brute speech quoted — and 

 natural history has many such — should fill us, on nearer 

 acquaintance, with admiration. Human speech, however, the 

 sonorous, harmonious enunciation of thought and feeling, the 

 clear expression of varied emotions, must always be considered 

 the highest ; and, if an animal be able, though only partially, 

 to imitate human language, it must decidedly belong to higher 

 ranks of creation even than those which appear most to 

 resemble man. 



With perfect justice, therefore, a lively and widespread love 

 is entertained for creatures which can speak, that is to say, 

 for birds gifted with the power of speech and trained to 

 use it. 



Many a one may remember, in his youth, as an important 

 event in his native town, the arrival of a talking bird. It was, 

 say, a white cockatoo, which sat lazily and sleepily in the ring 

 it was chained to and was carried about in, and now and then 

 it would erect its brilliantly-coloured crest, and, nodding its head 

 comically, and clapping its wings, would cry, with a shrill 

 voice, "Cockatoo! Cockatoo!" Young and old ran to see it, 

 and, when it pointedly added, '^Pretty Cocky is hungry!" not 

 only were cakes and sweets brought to it in abundance, but 

 halfpence rained upon the itinerant showman and his wonderful 

 bird. The newspapers relate a good story about a talking 

 bird. A newly-enlisted soldier in Vienna was one day gazing 

 at a great macaw perched with the quiet dignity of a 

 philosopher. When the man had walked round it several 

 times, the bird suddenly exclaimed, ''Blockhead!" Hastily 

 the young defender of his fatherland grasped his cap, made a 

 hurried bow, and stammered, " I beg your honour's pardon, 

 I thought you were a bird!" Thus, to a certain extent, the 

 feathered speaker unites the whole race of birds with mankind, 

 and stretching back into our youthful recollections, follows us 

 through the whole course of our lives. In the present day a 

 talking bird is no longer a rarity, for everywhere, even in 

 villages and country houses, parrots are to be found — indeed, 



B 2 



