The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-11
NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY.


NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY
@ ~ [From Chambers' Journal
Having devoted space in former paper to par
ticuaR connectedw my special favorite the pretty
and afectionats bufnch the very prince of European
cage BIRDS shall here say word about the house or
dwelling usually provided for him. think that nothing
can be more wantony cruel than the practice Of
leaving the poor bird exposed to tho hourly danger Of
being dragged through his prisonbar and perishing
miscraby by the fangs of the cat. have myself
adopted the mode of placing the upright wires of the
cage so close that no cats could possibly pass be-
tween them, at the same time allowing the to
run within shout inch and half Of each other.
would suggcst as more elegant, slight wire-lattce
covering the whole cage and the meshes of which should
not leave more than quarter of an inch opening This
might be made of very thin brass wire and would not
look amiss at all events it is to be hoped that cat
proof cages, made this principle other, will
one day be in general Apropos of bullfnches it is
generally thought that they will not breed in captivity
know of at least instance to the contrary large
cage, and quiet, Seem all they require
An ingenious mode of rearing birds is practised in
France; at least have only it there. The young
birds with the nest placed in a small cage and tied
up near the place in which the neat itself lay have
the old birds and attend to the nursing Of
their offspring in this way with the utmost zeal and
cess. When we consider how much moro skiful they
In finding the best food and administering It In the
best manner, cannot be surprised that in this way
the great losses, otherwise to occur avoided
Pigeons certainly graceful creatures and interesting
oh many qualities they possess Some Of the peculiar
kinds striking Objects from their odd appearance or
graceful symmetry but, on the whole, / think them
little worth cultiyating pets, however amusing to
boys But they have one advantage to the dweller in
cities who seldom get peep "at nature in her green
array - they help to keep alive in his heart the ssf and
humansng impressions which nature alone can foster
There is something most delightful to the toiyorn me-
chanic who plies his sckly trade" in fororn gar
t, If he can see pigeon or two of his take wing
from its window, and after wheeling gracefully about in
mid heaven, soaring back again to their place All
the little domestic economy of the fond pair s such
cases, interesting study and seldom find pets like
these birds Or flowers in the dwellings, of the spendthr
or the drunkard. ~ - .aa W
Passing to another class of animals come upon one
always regard with the greatest interest and curiosity
mean the otter In wild state, it is of the most
hcrcc and savage creatures possible. Every knows
OF Its predatory habits and the destruction of fish it
casions but few that if taken very young it
may be brought up tame dog, and that 1t
ceptble OF high degree of attachment to Its master
have it from authority which implicitly rely,
that an otter thus iamed in the west of Ireland
some years ago and that it would descend into the
waters of Lough Corb and return to the boat with It's
prcy-generally salmon-in its mouth. My informant
adds, that English officers quartered in Galway
were delighted with its performance that they resolved
to have it at any price, The parted very rcluct
anty with his avorite, which regularly installed at
the barracks Possibly, If his friends had waited
sufficient time TO gain his affections by kindness all
might have been well but anxious for sport they took
him the water and let him CO. In short time the
otter roappeared with salmon in his jaws and as
usual, swan for the boat As he drew near thought
seemed to strike him. and he hcsitted looked into the
faces of those whom he could see about little as
pursuing his scrutiny and at last diyed and was seen
more The probability is, that missing the master
whom he knew he had not sufficient acquaintance with
his possessOrs to for their company have good
information from other of the capacity of the
otter for domestcaon. This capacity to be the
Distinguishing mark of certain races. suppose it to
represent organic differences in the brain and nervous
system. 5ea ~ Htb .ag 81. sBt
We have seen that the pheasant and gray partridge
are incapable of domestcaon while other denixens of
the wood and field yield to it Mt So 1t appears to
DO among quadrupeds The fox and wolf although often
tried, never have been truly tanned far as know.
They do not to have brain enough for it and the
silly nstct of timidity--silly mean, when
justes its too strong to be got over Yet there
some few instances of exceptionablc kind In which
the wolf has shown affection to the person by whom
he reared. The low cunning which is displayed by
these animals in such perfection must lie In por
tion of cerebral matter quite apart from those develop
mcns which distinguish the Uranium of the noble and
maguaninious dog. How often do we see individuals
Of human species who strikingly illustrate both tenn
pcramentsi a M e fr
There is something very interesting in contemplating
those animals which, still in wild state, represent the
origin and of domestic and compan-
IONS II do not for my part, believe that the dog
has any family relationship to the wolf than the
pheasant has to the domestic fowl Many qualities they
have in common doubt but there would to be
My belief is that the dog has, quite apart from the wolf
his wild prototype and that like the South Australian
dingo, animal of the tribe was to be found in
primcvnl Europe from which all varieties may have
sprung. p, @ @n'
Now that have got upon the subject of dogs, must
restrain my gsrulity for the theme is inexhaustibc
shall content myself with alludng to the following
rous instance of voluntary association for
purpose among them, which fell under my own obser
vaien. sssa fa aaH 7faH la
When q boy, was engaged ono evening in Watching
10 got shot at rabbits in ancient park in which
many detached burrows was much surprised 10
see two dogs-Aonc large, and the other very small
bound over the fence, and crouching down in hollow
space II TO avoid observation gaIop rapidly towards
one of the They concealed themselves well
they could directing their approach by the Of
an old ditch and when tho hocs rushing furiousy
forward with the evident design of Surprising out
ler Failing in this the small dog entered the burrow,
and could hear him barking underground, doubt TO
bok the ~bbr from their refuge whie his companion
stood outside waving HIS tall In the greatest excitement
and wetchfunesa At last the little dog returned And