TALKING BIRDS 
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Gardens, but the best is in the western Aviary, where 
it whistles “ Merrily danced the Quaker,” in tones like 
a flute. 
The American blue jay, a most brilliant creature, 
with lines of emerald and turquoise, is an admirable 
mimic of many sounds, even of the human voice. 
Wilson writes of one “ which had all the tricks and 
loquacity of a parrot; pilfered all it could conveniently 
carry off, answered to its name with great sociability 
when called upon, and could articulate a number of 
words pretty distinctly.” Our English jays can also 
talk, and magpies, especially if kept in good health 
and spirits by being allowed partial freedom, soon pick 
up words. Jackdaws and the American crow can also 
be made to talk. But in all the crow tribe, except the 
piping crow, the reproduction of human speech seems 
to be more a trick of mimicry than an effort to 
acquire a substitute for song. Parrots, mynahs, and 
some cockatoos take infinite pains to learn correctly 
and increase their stock of phrases. But the magpie 
or jay learns what is easy, and takes no further trouble. 
Even the raven seldom has many words at command, 
though, owing to its deep, resonant voice and imposing 
size, it attracts more attention than a chattering jay. 
The raven is the largest creature, except man, that 
can “talk,” and fancy and superstition have naturally 
exaggerated its powers. Still the speech of the raven 
has a depth and solemnity which that of no other bird 
possesses, and whether in boding utterances, like those 
attributed to the raven in Barnaby Rudge , or by 
