148 
BIRD-LIFE. 
I often listened to the bird for hours together, yet I could 
not understand everything it said in a single visit, for it 
talked a great deal too much, and, if in the humour, was 
not silent a moment during the whole afternoon. 
“ This bird is now six and a half or seven and a half 
years old: it talks, sings, and whistles like a man, and 
imitates the human voice so accurately, that if a person 
hears it in the next room the bird causes the most 
singular and comical misunderstanding; inasmuch as it 
always gives the true tone and correct expression of 
greeting, threatening, fear, tenderness, &c.: it is exces¬ 
sively entertaining to listen to it, for one would think 
that several people were talking together. One is all the 
more readily deceived by its way of answering any 
question addressed to it in the most apposite manner; it 
will often vary its answers in this way, when addressed 
by anyone. It also shows great talent as an improvisatore 9 
and often says things which no one can remember ever 
to have taught it; this is owing to some passing remark 
made in its presence, which it has caught, and practises 
when alone. One morning its owner received a visit from 
a brewer, and addressed his visitor thus: —‘ Good¬ 
morning, Mr. brewer,’ &c.; whereupon the bird imme¬ 
diately calls out: ‘ Good-morning, Mr. brewer; your 
humble servant, Mr. brewer.’ And this it repeated 
several times, until it uttered the sentence without a 
mistake. Upon this achievement it immediately signified 
its pleasure by a loud cry of triumph; and this was its 
usual mode of signifying its success. A native of the place 
once said to it, 4 Polly is a witch ’ (a local term for dolt) ; 
the bird immediately answered, ‘I am not a witch.’ 
This can naturally be only ascribed to its memory and 
power of comprehension, for it is customary in Salzburg 
