The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-01-09

How Birds are Taught TO Sing.
Each kind of bird sings its own pecu-
liar note, but all may be taught to sing
regular tunes The mocking bird and
thrush learn tunes without training
But, by regular education, other birds
may become fine performers. A contri-
butor to the Nursery says:
Last summer | was at friends house
at Nahant. l rose early in the morning,
and went down stairs to walk on the pi-
azza. While there heard, as l thought,
some person whistliDg a tune in a very
sweet style l looked around, but could
see no one. Where could the sound
come from? | looked up and saw lit
tie bird in cage. The cage was hung
in the midst of flowers and twing
plants.
''Can it be-" thought 1, ''that such a
little bird as that has been taught to sing
a regular tune so SWEET"
/ 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 my friend
cried out to the bird, Come, Bully,
Bully, sweet little bull-fnch, give us just
one more tune" And then this dear lit
tie bird hoped about the cage, looked at
its mistress, and whistled 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 will whistle Yankee Doc
DIE" And the little thing did whistle
it, much to my surprise.
My friend then told me that she had
brought the bird from the little town of
Fulda, in Germany, where there are lit
tie schools for teaching these birds to
sing. When bullfnch has learned to
sing two or three tunes he is worth from
$40 to $50, for he will bring that price in
France or England.
Great skill and patience are needed to
teach these birds. Few teachers can
hava the time to give to the children I'M
der their charge so much care as the bird
teachers give to their bird pupils
The birds are put into classes of about
six each, and kept in dark room for a
time. Here, when their food is given to
them, they are made to hear music, SO
that, when they Ehave eaten their food,
or when they want more food, they will
sing and try to initiate the tune they have
just heard. This tune they probably con-
meet 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 allowed Meth
er 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 bull-fnch is put under the care of
boy, who plays his organ from morning
till night, while the master or mistress of
the bird school goes round to see how the
pupils are getting on.
The bullfnches seem to know at once
when they are scolded and when they are
praised by their master or mistress; and
they like to be petted when they have
done well.
The training goes on for nine months;
and then the birds have got their educa-
ton and are sent to England or France,
and sometimes to America, to be sold.
All animals, all birds, and all reptiles
even fshes-are susceptible of culture,
and improvement. So are plants, roots,
and fruits. And above and beyond all
are human beings capable of almost IL
limitable developments both of body and
mind.