"I don't doubt it, my son. I am not questioning your word—nor Mr. Wilson's. But I don't see anything very remarkable in that: if you come to the bank any day, you can hear men say the same thing. They come in and say, 'Tweedle.' And they go out."
Webster continued:
"Audubon described the notes as 'Turdle turdle turdle.'"
Deeper silence at the table. Webster continued in the face of the silence;
"A living naturalist says the notes may be:
"'Toodle toodle toodle.'"
Silence at the table still more deep. Webster broke it:
"Another naturalist describes the bird as saying:
"'Ter-wheeter wheeter wheeter wheeter wheeter.'"