HISTORY OF MY PARROT.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1772, 24 October 1879, Page 2

HISTORY OF MY PARROT.

The interesting sketch of the “ History of My Parrot,” which Dr. Wilks contributes to the current number of the “ Journal of Mental Science,” deserves a passing notice. The comparative study of the facta of intercommunication among men and among animals necessitates the admission that animals possess language ; and the mechanism and apparatus for articulate speech, in those animals which possess it, do not differ from those of man. A bird learns to speak by imitation, through the organs of hearing, and in a manner vo ry similar to that in which children learn words and sentences, and the bird speaks on special occasions in consequence of some association or suggestion, “ the usual provocative for set speeches at all periods of human life.” A new expression, after having been repeatedly uttered before the parrot, is practised by it spontaneously, indefatigably working at the sentence by itself. At first it is only able to get out the first word or two, then more and mare, until it has the power of uttering the whole. In just the same way a child will learn a French sentence. A sentence is soon lost by the parrot if not frequently uttered, and the Inst words ore lost first; the first words—those most readilyacquired—are lost last. Speech of the bird, on any given occasion, is due to suggestion—the presence of the person or object with which the words were first associated. Of this Dr. Wilks gives several striking instances; as, “half-past two” whenever the coachman comes for orders, “go to sleep” when approached after dark, “ give mo a bit” when dinner appears, and “ cheese" when the cheese is put upon the table, a sound like water being poured out whenever a jug of water is brought in. Thus the bird associates words or sounds with objects, and, whore the right names have been taught, may bo said to know tboir names, making a particular sound which had never been taught, whenever nuts wore brought upon the table. The sight of a cat makes the parrot say “ mew,” as the sight of a train makes a child say “ puff, puff.” Dr. Wilks concludes by remarking that the differences between animals and children are much slighter than are the explanations, which, on the assumption of instinct in the one case and reason in the other, wo put upon them, and suggests that the chief difference between man and animals is to be found in smallness of knowledge of the fine arts possessed by the latter. —“ Lancet.”