Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1892 — An Imitative Canary. [ARTICLE]

An Imitative Canary.

A week or two since Billy’s cage stood upon its stand at the open window and a robin, alighting upon a tree near the house, belched forth one pf those mournful yaps which are distressing to hear. It was the first time that the canary had heard the call of any bird since he came last fall into the house. At once he took up the mournful tone, making very sad work of it at first. His mistress could not divine what the little fellow was attempting to imitate; as be improved we at once took the idea, and told her it was the call of the robin, and now, in spite of all that can be done to arrest his imitations, he is constantly intepolating that call into his own beautiful song—a sad illustration of the fact that evil communications corrupt good manners. While the bird was still experimenting upon that dismal call we turned his attention from it by repeating the name of his mistress, in which exercise he joined heartily. All attempts to frighten him were vain, as he would, after the scare was over, sit upon his perch and sing and whistle as if he was enjoying the contest. We do not say that he was, but canaries are no fools, as one will become convinced if he handles them.