The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-11-16
Early Rising or Birds.

For many years learned French
man, NJ. bureau de Ia Male, took
special notice OF the times at which
various birds left their nests and be-
gan their songs, or betOOk themselves
to the duties of the day. For thirty
years this gentleman was In the
habit, during a good part Of the spring
and summer, of going to bed at seven
O'Clock in the evening, in order that
he might rise again at midnight and
be ready to watch the very earliest
movements among his feathered
friends. By uniformly treating the
birds who built in his garden aud
grounds with kindness, giving them
food and protecting them from harm,
NJ. de la Male had made the birds in
to real friends, and he could move
quietly among the trees and shrubs
without exciting any alarm on the
part OF those who would otherwise
have been quick to noties his sp-
proach and fly beyond his reach.
The most common birds whose
habits were noted by the gentleman
in question, appear to have turned
out" In the morning Of May and June
at the following hours
The greenfinch from one to half
past one.
The linnel from two to three.
The quail from kalf-past two to
three.
The bIsckbird from half-past three
to four.
The red-headed lInnet from three to
half-past three.
The sparrow from fiYe to hslf-past
five.
The t3mtit from five to hslf-past
five.
1t will be seen that the greenfiueh
was the earliest and the sparrow one
of the latest risers among the birds
observed Who would have thought
that the sparrow would be the most
and the most lazy OF
birds / am afraid other thieves are
lazy as well,
OF course the rule which N. de Ia
Male laid down, as above mentioned,
was subject to exceptions. Some
times the birds rose even earlier, and
the reason is thus suggested in an In
teresting extract from the naturalist's
statement: "On the fourth of June
the red-heRded Iinnet and the black
bird commenced their song at half
past two in the morning. Struck
with the anomaly l went to inspect
their nests, Rad found their brOOds.
thought at first that it was q mani
festation of parental Joy; but soon
became convinced Of my error. The
necessity of laOoriDg more hours to
feed the increasing famIy had has
tened their rising by an hour snd a
half; and l could see, by the moon
light, the parents constantly occupied
IN seeking on the grass and fl Iver
beds the insects which were to serve
as nournishment for their offspring"
Sometimes the birds are deceived in
The hour. Thus q linnet awOks at
balf-past twelve, and began to sing
On q tree close to a widow at which
the naturalist had placed his lamp.
Tt had mistaken the light Of the lamp
for that of the sun but very soon
his error. and, confused
and ashamed, went to sleep again.
A tame black bird, which was in the
habit Of returning every evening to
its cage left hanging in the court was
forgotten one evening, and the cage
was not taken indoors. At Atmidnight,
when NJ. de II Males lamp was
lighted, the blackbird woke up and
began to sing the airs he had been
taught. Immediately the wild black
birds in the garden aud shruhbery an
swered the songs, and from mid0ight
until moraing both wild and tame
birds sang away as IL 10 emulatiOn.-l
Nel0dTE DAILY AdUsTtiser.