Bird Snitches on Cheating Husband

June 19, 2001 -- A Chinese housewife isseeking divorce, claiming the family's talking bird droppedclues on her husband's illicit affair, state media said today.

The woman from southwestern Chongqing city said sheuncovered the affair when their mynah began saying things like"Divorce," "I love you" and "Be patient" after it overheard thehusband's telephone calls with his mistress, the Xinmin EveningNews said.

The woman said she noticed the feathered tattle-tale'sstrange new vocabulary after she returned from a monthlongvisit with her parents that started in May.

Already suspecting her husband was having an affair, sheobserved that the bird became particularly talkative wheneverthe telephone rang, confirming her suspicions, the report said.

Last week she brought the bird to a law office forconsultation, hoping it could testify in court.

"Can my mynah be used as witness?" the newspaper quoted heras asking.

Lawyers were not optimistic.

"The judges are unlikely to rule against your husband basedonly on the mynah's words," attorney Wu Di was quoted astelling her.