The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-10-12
How Birds are Taught to Sing.

Each kind of birds sings its own pecu.
liar notes, but all may be taught to sing
regular tunes. The mocking-bird and
thrush learns tunes without training
But by regular education, other birds
may become fine performers. A contribu
tor to the Nursery says:
Last summer I was at friends house
at Nahant rose early in the morning.
and went down stairs to walk on the pi-
azza. While there | heard as I thought
some person whistlng tune in a very
sweet style. l looked around but could
see no one. Where could the sound
come from! / looked up, and saw a lit
tie bird in cage. The cage was hung
in the midst Of flowers aud twining
plants.
"Can it be" thought J., "that such a
little bird as that has been taught to sing
a regular tune so sweetiy!"
did not know what to make of it
When my friend came down stairs she
told me that it was the little bird who
had whistled the sweet tune. Then m Y
friend cried out to the bird, "Come, Bull
ly Bully, sweat little bullfnch, give us
just one more tune" And then this
little bird hoped about the cage look
ed at its mistress. and whis,led another
sweet tune. 1t was SO strange to hear a
bird whistle regular tune
"Now, Bully" said my friend, "you
must give us Yankee Doodle, Come,
come, you shall have some nice fresh
seed if you willwhistle Yankee Doodle. !"
And the little thin did whistle it, much
to my surprise.
My friend then told me that she had
brought the bird from the little town of
Fuida iii Germany, where there are liz
tie schools for teaching these birds to
sing. When bullfnch has learned to
sing two or three tunes, heis worth from
forty to sixty dollars, for he will bring
that price in France or England
Great skill and Datiencc arc neadaii : :
'~"~i 4hnsA Eiras,- Pow t-.-I...-s eau
haze the time to give to tho children
under their charge SO much care as the
bird teachers give to their bird pupils.
The birds are put into classes of about
SIX each, aud kept for time in dark
room. Here, when their food is given
to them, they are made to hear music
so that, when they have eaten their food
or when they want moro food, they will
sing and try to initate the tune they
have just heard This tune they proba-
bly, connect with the act Of feeding. AS
soon as they begin to initiate a few notes
the light is let into the room and this
cheers them still more, and makes them
feel as if they would like to sing. In
some of these schools the birds are al
lowod neither light nor food till they
begin to sing. These are the schools
where the teachers are most strict.
After being thus taught in classes each
bull6nch is put under the care of n boy,
who plays his organ from morning till
night, while the master or mistress of
the bril- school goes round to sec how
the pupils are getting on.
The bu!linches seem TO know at once
when they are scol lei and when they
are praised by their master or mistress;
and they like to be petted when they
have done we'll. The training goes on
for nine months, and then the birds have
got their education aud are sent to Eng.
land or France, aud sometimes to Ameri-
ca, to be sold
All animals, all birds, and all reptiles
even hshes-are susceptible Of culture
and improvements. So areplauts, roots,
and fruits. And, above and beyond all
are human beings capable Of almost H.
Emitable development, both of body and
mind