Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1875 — Can Birds Converse? [ARTICLE]

Can Birds Converse?

Dr. Charles C- Abbott cites the following occurrence to show that birds possess I some mode of conveying ideas to one an- ■ other: In the spring of 1872 a pair of 1 cat-birds were noticeci carrying material ; for a nest to a patch of blackberry briers i hard by. To test their ingenuity Dr. Ab 2 * i bott took a long, narrow strip of muslin, ' too long for one bird conveniently to cany, and placed it on the ground in such a position as to be seen by the birds when searehingd'or material. In a few moments one of the cat-birds spied the strip and endeavored to carry it off; but its length i and weight, however he took hold of it — i and he fried many times—impeded his flight, and after worrying a long time over i it the bird flew off for assistance. In a few I moments he returned with his mate, and ! then standing near the strip they appeared ;to hold a consultation. The chirping, twittering, murmuring, and occasional ejaculations were all unmistakable. In * few moments these all ceased, and the work commenced. Each took hold of the i muslin strip at about the same distance in I I each case from-the ends, and. taking flight j i simujtaneously, both it away. Soon there I I was much jabbering at the nest; the birds ! qquld not agree how to use the strip, and it : was finally abandoned; but so, too, was the 1 lest, and the birds left the neighborhood, j