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By Alexander Wetmore
Talking parrots are universally known, but
it is something of a surprise to most people to
stop to examine a heavy-bodied, shiny black
bird with curious yellow wattles on the sides
of the head and have it suddenly remark in a
sepulchral, croaking voice, "I'm hungry," or,
less politely, "So's your old man!" But this is
what may happen to visitors in the National
Zoological Park any day.
The bird is the talking myna (Gracula religiosa) from the Malay region, a species of wide
range that has been separated into a number
of geographic races
(Color Plate VIII).
These mynas are naturally imitative and
learn words, phrases, and other bird calls,
particularly loud, whistled sounds, with ease. I
remember especially the survivor of a pair
that often remarked to me (rather mournfully,
it seemed), "The other one died," and followed this or any other imitation with cackling laughter learned from those who were
amused at its talk. This same bird, when we
first received it, jabbered phrases in some
strange tongue, perhaps in Malay, taken from
native handlers before it was shipped to us.
In talking, mynas usually check their restless jumping about to rest with body held stiffly,
bill pointing out, and the pupil of the eye contracting and enlarging rapidly. Words are uttered with open bill and considerable movement
of the throat.
Mynas are quarrelsome and aggressive, so
they have to be confined alone. They require
a good deal of cage room, and eat fruit and
other soft food. Though most amusing in an
aviary, they are not recommended for household pets, as they require considerable attention in keeping their cages clean. They readily
learn to imitate from one another.
Originally appeared in the December 1938 issue of the National Geographic Magazine
This Web version COPYRIGHT 2004
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