This remarkable bird is about the size of our Crow Blackbird, and resembles it also in plumage. It articulates words and sentences with wonderful distinctness. There was one at the Exchange Coffee House, in Boston, last summer, who uttered the following sentences, which no doubt it had learned on its passage to this country:

"Good morning. What are you going to do, Jerome? How's the wind, Jerome ? Jerome, what's the clock? "

This was articulated with surprising exactness, in a fine tenor voice; and this is the more astonishing, as the tongue of this bird is long and slender, and not fleshy and rounded as in the parrot tribe, which is thought favorable to their articulation, from its resemblance to the tongue of the human species.

There was also one of these birds in New York recently, which was celebrated for uttering sentences distinctly. I kept one myself about a year ago, for a short time; while with me he would whistle and imitate other sounds, but did not pronounce words; since that time, I understand he has got the gift of speech also like the others.

Food

These birds are great eaters; I fed mine on meal and milk, as a staple dish. If I approached the cage with anything in my hand that he could eat, (he was not particular) meat, cooked or raw, bread or potatoes, he would be down at the cage door putting his head through the wires, and uttering a whining cry ; and would always get some of it out of my hand, before I could open his cage door, or put it into the cage. They require plenty of gravel, and water to wash often. It may be worthy of remark here, that I have always found those birds, which eat a good deal of food, all fond of bathing, and wash every day at least, if they have an opportunity.

Characteristics Of The Sexes

This bird resembles the Crow Blackbird in size and plumage, and is remarkable for a broad band of yellow skin, which begins on the side of the head, and extends to the nape of the neck on both sides, but does not meet; the plumage on the sides of the head is short, and resembles black velvet. There is little, if any, difference in plumage between the male and female.

Location

Found on the Island of Java and in other parts of Asia.