Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1894 — DIED OF LOVE. [ARTICLE]

DIED OF LOVE.

A Traveler's Pathetic Aeeoaot of an Incident in Bird Life. Dr. Junker, a scientific explorer, traveled through Africa without armed escorts, and accompanied only by his native attendants and carriers. He had brought from west of the Makua a pair of red-tailed gray parrots. Their wings being clipped, they were allowed to go about freely in the inclosure; but the Queen, who was specially attached to Dr. Junker, would perch half the day together by his side. Unfortunately the pair came to a tragic end. The kingbird had somehow fallen tfrom the perch and received internal injury. Seeing him on the ground, bleeding at the beak, I brought him to my couch and laid him first on one side, then on the other,- to give him a little ease; but all to no purpose, and in aDout an hour he lay dead, with outstretched wings. Meanwhile, the queen parrot, which had probably witnessed the accident, came in and began to behave in a most extraordinary manner. First she imitated to the life all the movements of her dying consort; then she crouched at some little distance, changing her position whenever he aid, sighing, laying her head now on one side, now on the other; in short, acting exactly as if she were suffering from the same injury that had befallen her mate. I kept my eyes riveted on the inseparable pair, and my amazement soon changed to a feeling of deep sympathy. The paroxysm of impulsive imitation lasted long enough to produce a marked effect on the organic functions of the little creature. Her grief, or whatever inexplicable Influence it may have been, caused so profound a disturbance in the system that the vital action suddenly ceased while she was yet mourning the loss of her companion. Without heeding the risk, she had drawn so near the fire that I was obliged at last to move her to a place of safety. But the end was not already at hand. She refused the most tempting morsels, and within twenty minutes of her partner’s death she had breathed her last gasp. What are we to make from this far from solitary case? By what name shall we inscribe the puzzle? Imitative impulse, instinct, heartbroken sorrow for the dear one—what shall we saycaqshd the death of our little gray parrot?