AR TICULA TION. 1 3 1 



instances of the apposite use of words or phrases by talking^ 

 birds are found on inquiry to be due, as antecedently we 

 should expect that they must, to the principle of association. 

 The bird hears a proper name applied to a person, and so, on 

 learning to say the name, henceforth associates it with that 

 person. And similarly with phrases. These with talking 

 birds are mere vocal gestures, which in themselves present 

 but little more psychological significance than muscular 

 gestures. The verbal petition, " Scratch poor poll," does not 

 in itself display any further psychological development than 

 the significant gesture already alluded to of depressing the 

 head against the bars of the cage ; and similarly with all 

 cases of the appropriate use of longer phrases. Thus, 

 supposing it to be due to association alone, a verbal sign of 

 any kind is not much more remarkable, or indicative of 

 intelligence, than is a gesture sign, or a vocal sign of any 

 other kind. The only respect in which it differs from such 

 other signs is in the fact that it is wholly arbitrary or 

 conventional ; and although, as I have previously said, I do 

 consider this an important point of difference, I am not at all 

 surprised that even the intelligence of a bird admits of such 

 special associations being formed, or that a wholly arbitrary 

 sign of any kind should here be acquired by this means, and 

 afterwards used as a sign. 



And that the verbal signs used by talking birds are due to 

 association, and association only, all the evidence I have met 

 with goes to prove. As showing how association acts in this 

 case, I may quote the following remarks of Dr. Samuel 

 Wilks, F.R.S., on his own parrot, which he carefully observed. 

 He says that w^hen alone this bird used to " utter a long 

 catalogue of its sayings, more especially if it heard talking at 

 a distance, as if wishing to join in the conversation, but at 

 other times a particular word or phrase is only spoken when 

 suggested by a person or object. Thus, certain friends who 

 have addressed the bird frequently by some peculiar ex- 

 pression, or the whistling of an air, will always be welcomed 

 by the same words or tune, and as regards myself, when I 



