136 ■ CURIOUS HOMES AXn THEIR TENANTS. 



gives vent to a jargon of sounds, displaying its bands 

 and gesticulating in a manner that irresistibly reminds 

 one of the declamatory style of preaching. A gentle- 

 man describing the bird says : " He shakes his head, 

 bending to one side, then to the other, as if he made 

 remarks first to this part of his hearers and after- 

 v^ard to that ; and once and again, with pent-up ve- 

 hemence, contracting his muscles and dravring himself 

 together, his voice waxes loud, as if to awaken sleep- 

 ers to their senses." 



It is a favorite cage bird with the colonists, being 

 easily reared in confinement, and its extraordinary 

 powers of mimicry make it a very interesting pet. It 

 can repeat whole sentences, and imitate, among other 

 things, the barking of a dog to perfection. Its mem- 

 ory, teachableness, and articulation are better than 

 those of any parrot ; in fact, perhaps it is the best 

 talker among birds. 



Not only is the parson bird an excellent talker, 

 but it is also one of the sweetest singers in the world. 



Sir Walter Buller, who has seen the bird in a 

 state of nature, writes : " It is incessantly on the 

 move, pausing only to utter its joyous notes. The 

 early morning is the period devoted to melody, and 

 the birds then perform in concert, gladdening the 

 woods with their wild ecstasy. 



" When engaged in song, the parson bird pufEs out 

 the feathers of his body, distends his throat, opens 

 wide his beak, with the tongue raised and slightly 

 protruded, and gesticulates with his head as he pours 

 forth the wild harmony of his soul. 



