When I was younger, I knew that Doctor Doolittle's grey African parrot Polynesia, a couple of centuries old, fluent in more than a hundred languages, was the most interesting character in Hugh Lofting's books.
Mr. Lofting was more right than he knew.
Alex the Parrot"Want a nut. Nnn, uh, tuh."
It is, of course, entirely possible that Dr. Pepperberg is the same kind of overeager that led scientists to overestimate the linguistic capability of chimps and apes like Washoe and Koko. But it's a damn good story.
Posted by Greg at October 13, 2003 4:35 PM