STARLINGS. 



145 



knows all the inhabitants of the house, remarks 

 their motions and air, and adapts himself to their 

 humours. In his solemn tottering step, he ap- 

 pears to go stupidly forward ; but nothing escapes 



his eye. He learns to pronounce words without 

 having his tongue cut, which proves the useless- 

 ness of this cruel operation, He repeats correctly 

 the airs which are taught him, as does also the 

 female, imitates the cries of men and animals, 

 and the songs of all the birds in the room with 



