THE VOICE OF ANIMALS 25 
and penetrating, so much so, indeed, that it 
is by no means pleasant for a person to have 
to stand close to one of the songsters when 
it is indulging in its musical performance. 
Heard at a distance, however, its notes are 
very pleasing, resembling as they do the clear 
and metallic toned ringing of a bell, or the 
sound produced by a blacksmith striking a 
piece of metal upon an anvil. 
The piping crows of Australia and Tasmania 
also possess remarkable vocal powers. 
In the majority of cases their song is a 
beautiful whistle, while in captivity they will 
readily learn to pipe tunes, and even become 
proficient at talking. 
A certain species, however, called by the 
Colonists by the name of “ organ-bird,” is 
peculiar in the fact that it utters notes re¬ 
sembling the noise produced by a hand-organ 
that has seen better days. 
Quite a number of birds can be taught to 
talk and whistle, one of the best known being 
the grey parrot. 
Cockatoos and macaws will also learn to 
imitate the human voice, and it is recorded 
that a green parakeet belonging to a soldier 
in India was able to speak words of three 
different languages, namely, English, Japanese 
and Hindustani. 
